Sydney to Hobart yacht in strife

[RFNK]

Thought some of you might be interested in this story that just hit the Australian national broadcaster's (ABC) news webpage. With Robin Hood helping out, things should end happily. Rick

Rescue underway after yacht rolls off SE Qld coast

Posted 2 hours 6 minutes ago
Updated 1 hour 45 minutes ago

Map: Maroochydore 4558 (http://www.abc.net.au/news/maps/map.htm?lat=-26.6617&long=153.0985&caption=Maroochydore 4558)
Related Story: Rain, high seas pound SE Qld (http://www.abc.net.au/news/stories/2009/04/02/2533318.htm)


The Sydney to Hobart winner Ausmaid is believed to be the yacht at the centre of a rescue operation in heavy seas off the south-east Queensland coast.
Noosa Coastguard commander Robin Hood says the racing yacht with three people on board rolled in heavy seas and lost its mast 10 nautical miles north of Noosa.
A helicopter is attempting to rescue the crew members.
Commander Hood says rescue crews have already winched one person off the yacht.
"The helicopter has taken the skipper off the vessel, he had complained of a back problem and has left two crewmen on board," Commander Hood said.
"Our rescue vessel is within 15 to 20 minutes of them and we'll have a further update then of course as to whether or not they can get close enough to get them off."
The rescue attempt comes as rain, strong winds and high seas continue to lash the state's south-east as a low pressure system moves though the region.

[The Bigfella]

Its not nice weather to be out in...

I hope they get them all OK and the boat survives too.

[GaryK]

I heard on the radio they found the yacht again and winched the final two to safety. The empty boat is still adrift somewhere.

[Paul Fitzgerald]

Seems to be a pretty good result

http://www.news.com.au/story/0,27574,25281123-29277,00.html

[bamamick]

A boat that I used to race on sometimes had a delivery crew of as few as two guys. A 60' boat. That's just plain crazy but of course the delivery crews are getting paid. Then again, probably doesn't matter how many hands they had on board if they were crossing a ten metre sea.

Thank God for the efforts of the rescuers, and I am glad that they salvaged the boat. Just another example that it can happen to even the best of us.

Mickey Lake

[RFNK]

By the way, the Australian Coastguard (and the Australian Coastal Patrol too) is a voluntary association, in no way equivalent to the US Coastguard. These guys are mainly retirees, although not all, of course - they do a pretty good job considering! Rick

[rufustr]

http://www.thedaily.com.au/news/2009/apr/03/yacht-washes-noosa-north-shore/

Ausmaid yacht a 'write-off'

10:46a.m. 3rd April 2009
| By Blythe Seinor (http://www.thedaily.com.au/staff/blythe-seinor/contact/)

The 14-metre super yacht that overturned in huge seas off Double Island Point has been declared “pretty much a write off”.
Ausmaid, which has twice won handicap honours in the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race, suffered extensive damage in yesterday’s wild weather.
Noosa Coastguard’s Robin Hood said the yacht’s keel, rudder and mast were damaged and said there was also a large crack in the hull.
Mr Hood said the boat’s owner Bruce Absolon was “gutted”.
“The Ausmaid is still listed as a starter for the Brisbane to Gladstone Yacht Race but they’ll have to change that,” Mr Hood said.
The yacht is still beached at Noosa’s North Shore after a Noosa Coastguard crew was unable to get the vessel off the sand.
The skipper was flung from the yacht when it overturned and had to be winched from the damaged vessel by the AGL Action Rescue helicopter.
He was taken to Nambour Hospital with suspected back injuries and released later yesterday afternoon.
The other two crew members were forced to perch on the vessel for more than two hours as rescue crews struggled to reach them in the six-metre swell.

[WX]

10 metres are a good size, I wouldn't want to be out there.

[Concordia...41]

Noosa Coastguard’s Robin Hood said the yacht’s keel, rudder and mast were damaged and said there was also a large crack in the hull.


Unfortunately, that about covers it :(