Island Time 1,240 Posted August 6, 2019 Share Posted August 6, 2019 Yachties Rescued off Niue 7 August 2019 Last night, at 6.15 pm New Zealand time, the Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) were alerted to a distress call from the vessel Gwendoline 50 nautical miles west of Niue. The yacht was taking on water and sinking after hitting a semi-submerged object and causing damage below the waterline. The two people on board the sailing boat abandoned the yacht to their life raft. RCCNZ Search and Rescue Officer Mike Roberts requested assistance from two yachts in the area. They responded to the calls and have made contact with the two people on board the Gwendoline’s life raft by VHF radio, who confirmed they were in their life raft, and their yacht was sinking quickly. Mike Roberts said, “This shows the critical importance of working communications equipment, and the absolute necessity to carry survival equipment, especially when sailing offshore. “The New Zealand and Greek flagged yachts that assisted did a marvellous job, and they are all now sailing to Tonga. The abandoned yacht was described by those who assisted with the rescue as being seen to be sinking quickly.” RCCNZ is a division of Maritime NZ and is responsible for coordinating land, sea and air, search and rescue. It coordinates: • maritime and aviation search and rescue missions within New Zealand’s search and rescue region (30 million square kilometres) • initial action for search and rescue operations arising from someone activating a distress beacon. These incidents are termed ‘Category II’ incidents. RCCNZ also assists with other rescues when required, and provide search and rescue (SAR) services 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, 365 days a year. 1 Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,240 Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 Not yet, that's all I know Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Ladyhawk 37 Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 https://www.nzherald.co.nz/nz/news/article.cfm?c_id=1&objectid=12256343 Marinetraffic has a Danish yacht called Gwendoline, its a beautiful 16m ketch, says it was in Kiribati, heading for Niue... pure speculation that its the same one mind you Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adrianp 120 Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 I wonder how does RCCNZ get in touch with nearby yachts in these situations? We sail around with the VHF on 16 but not the SSB. I guess Customs have our sat phone details but how do they know we're nearby? AIS from the satelites? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Adrianp 120 Posted August 7, 2019 Share Posted August 7, 2019 I wonder how does RCCNZ get in touch with nearby yachts in these situations? We sail around with the VHF on 16 but not the SSB. I guess Customs have our sat phone details but how do they know we're nearby? AIS from the satelites? Quote Link to post Share on other sites
Island Time 1,240 Posted August 7, 2019 Author Share Posted August 7, 2019 Ais from the sats is one source. You might be surprised what they know! Even class B gets to the sats most of the time. Quote Link to post Share on other sites
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