TWO sailors have now been rescued from a yacht battling severe weather in the Tasman Sea.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority co-ordinated the rescue with assistance from the Royal Australian Airforce and NSW Police.
Two merchant vessels were also diverted to assist if required.
AMSA was advised by a family member of the crew that the yacht, Aviva, had been damaged and began taking on water when it encountered 10-metre seas and high winds in the Tasman Sea.
The two crewmembers on board, understood to be aged in their 70s, activated an emergency beacon at around 0500 on Monday morning.
“AMSA responded with its Melbourne-based challenger rescue aircraft which established radio communication with the crew on board the vessel,” AMSA said in an update.
“The Australian Defence Force responded with multiple RAAF aircraft, to ensure continued communication and observation of the vessel.”
By Tuesday afternoon, the vessel was around 164 nautical miles east of Lord Howe Island, and NSW Police vessel Nemesis was en route to the vessel.
AMSA also diverted two merchant vessels, Liberian-flagged chemical tanker Ionic Artemis and Marshall Island-flagged bulk carrier Fairchem Aldebaran to assist if required until Nemesis arrived.
“The Nemesis arrived at the scene at 11pm last night and rescued the two crew members,” AMSA said.
“They are now safe on board the Nemesis which is returning to Sydney, via Lord Howe Island.
“AMSA would like to thank the NSW Police vessel Nemesis, the merchant vessels Ionic Artemis and Fairchem Aldebaran, and the Australian Defence Force for their assistance with the rescue.”
