SPIRIT OF MATESHIP

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Race yacht in distress off Nowra

The 'Spirit of Mateship' suffered a mechanical issue, including a damaged rudder and sail, with two people on board, a 60-year-old man and 48-year-old woman, causing it to take on water 150 kilometers east of the New South Wales east of Nowra on Sep 2, 2024. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (ASMA) received an emergency alert from the ship at 12.40 p.m. The Marine Area Command and Defence Force were notified that the yacht activated a distress beacon in the Shoalhaven region. A Toll Ambulance Rescue chopper from Bankstown was mobilized to the vessel, but as at 6.30 p.m. AEST was about halfway back to the mainland, as it was not able to hoist the crew. The HMAS 'Arunta', HMAS 'Canberra' and a Royal Australian Air Force C-130J Hercules aircraft were then mobilized to the position. The Australian Maritime Safety Authority was leading the SAR operation which was to take place at daylight. Weather conditions in the region have been treacherous with wind speeds of 60 to 70km/h breezes with 100 km/h gusts and a swell of five meters on Sep 2, hhen the sailors were taken safely aboard the NSW police vessel 'Nemesis' and reached shore on the evening. In the early morning, the HMAS 'Canberra' had reached the 'Spirit of Mateship', shortly before the 'Nemesis' arrived. The castaways were fatigue, but uninjured. The man, who owns the yacht, had left from the Gold Coast earlier this year and had been sailing with his female friend when the trouble struck. Reports with photos and video: https://www.msn.com/en-au/news/australia/got-one-sailors-rescued-after-almost-24-hours-stranded-at-sea/ar-AA1pSlVs https://www.goulburnpost.com.au/story/8750697/extremely-lucky-yacht-duo-glad-to-be-back-on-dry-land/