Two people were rescued after enduring a harrowing night at sea aboard their yacht, the ‘Spirit of Mateship’, which was caught in tumultuous conditions nearly 200 miles off Australia’s eastern coast. The vessel, battling six-meter waves and strong winds reaching 90 kilometers per hour, had lost power and communication, drifting towards New Zealand.
Authorities were first alerted around 1 p.m. on Monday when the crew activated their distress beacon. However, it took several hours before rescue helicopters could locate the stricken yacht. The crew was unable to be lifted due to adverse conditions, and initial rescue attempts were thwarted by the rough seas.
The sailors, identified as Brett, 60, and Lisa, 48, experienced a “horrible” night at sea. Despite no injuries, they were forced to endure extreme conditions with a vessel that could not steer and was taking on water. They faced severe wind, noise, and wet conditions while drifting uncontrollably.
Assistance came from Australian Navy ships HMAS Arunta and HMAS Canberra, along with Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft. A nearby merchant vessel also provided support. The rescue efforts resumed early Tuesday morning when conditions improved, and the NSW Police vessel Nemesis successfully reached the yacht.
By 7:30 a.m. Tuesday, a smaller boat from the Nemesis had retrieved the sailors from the yacht in choppy seas. Brett and Lisa were safely brought back to shore by Tuesday evening. They expressed relief and gratitude, noting their fatigue and seasickness as the main issues.
Flight emphasized that the outcome could have been much worse if the distress beacon had not been deployed. The “Spirit of Mateship”, which has a history of participating in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, has changed ownership since its days of supporting army veterans.
