Press Release – Maritime New Zealand

The French Navy and Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) have joined forces to rescue a family of eight from their stricken yacht 203 nautical miles (375km) north of North Cape.

DATE: 1 JULY 2009 TIME : 9.30AM
French warship rescues family
The French Navy and Royal New Zealand Airforce (RNZAF) have joined forces to rescue a family of eight from their stricken yacht 203 nautical miles (375km) north of North Cape.

The French warship La Glorieuse and a RNZAF C130 Hercules were yesterday contacted by the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) to assist in the rescue of the 12.6m sloop Carenza, after the yacht’s skipper activated their 406MHZ emergency locator beacon just after 5pm.

The yacht, with two adults and six children on board, had become dismasted and the rigging tangled around the rudder and keel rendering her immobile, while en route from Tonga to New Zealand. No one on board was injured.

RCCNZ Search and Rescue Officer Christine Wilson said La Glorieuse, which had already been en route to New Zealand on a courtesy visit, had diverted from its course to rescue the family, arriving alongside the stranded yacht about 10pm yesterday. The RNZAF Hercules had also assisted with overhead support, she said.

“Our grateful thanks go to the captain of the La Glorieuse for assisting us in this rescue, and to the RNZAF for their support. This was a fantastic effort truly in the spirit of international cooperation.”

Ms Wilson said the warship had stayed alongside the yacht throughout the night, before beginning evacuating the family – New Zealand residents – around 7am. The yacht would be scuttled to avoid it becoming a potential navigational hazard.

The warship’s estimated time of arrival in Auckland is tomorrow morning (Thursday 2 July).

ENDS

Content Sourced from scoop.co.nz
Original url