Four sailors were rescued from a life raft in the South Pacific after their yacht hit a whale and started taking on water, about 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island.
The 51-foot yacht, Tai Tam, which flies the Australian flag, was abandoned on Saturday after the incident, as reported by the New Zealand Defence Force. The crew activated the ship’s emergency position-indicating radio beacon (EPIRB) around 1 p.m. New Zealand time before they got into a life raft.
The distress signal reached the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ), which then sent a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft to search for the sailors.
The P-8A crew found the survivors and set up two-way radio communication with them while nearby vessels were directed to the area. The RNZAF has four P-8A Poseidon aircraft for maritime surveillance and search and rescue missions.
The sailors stayed in the life raft until around 6 a.m. Sunday, when they were rescued by the 143-meter cargo ship Sofrana Surville, the first merchant vessel to reach them. According to New Zealand authorities, all four were safely on board and being taken to port.
Mike Clulow, Operations Manager at RCCNZ, praised the rescue as well-coordinated and thanked the New Zealand Defence Force, Australian and New Caledonian rescue teams, Sofrana Surville, and a private sailing vessel that also helped.
Clulow emphasized that the yacht’s crew was well prepared and highlighted that activating the EPIRB early played a crucial role in the quick location of the sailors.
“The crew of the yacht did all the right things,” he said. “This serves as a great reminder that being prepared at sea can save your life.”