Kiwis rescued after yacht wrecked

[rigger 47]

http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/6512020 ... ht-wrecked

 

 

"They were on their way to Panama, about to wander through the canal and come back to New Zealand," Ganley said.

 

The Olivers left Prickly Bay, Grenada, in good conditions last Saturday, bound for Cartegena in Colombia. But on Monday night, between 10pm and 11pm local time, they hit Ave de Barlovento, the easternmost of the uninhabited Venezuelan island group of Las Aves.

 

The couple had been travelling with another yacht but were out of VHF range at the time. A mayday call was sent but went unanswered.

 

Dick Oliver's mum, Jo, said the couple eventually managed to notify nearby friends about their plight and waited until daylight for the Coast Guard to arrive.

 

They had to swim off the reef during the rescue and were unable to take anything with them.

 

Jo Oliver said the Chinook Wind was completely written off because of the high seas.

 

"It's a tremendous loss because she was a beautiful boat; to walk away and see it and not be able to tow her away. If they had the dingy, they would have been able to get more stuff off."

 

She said family, including the couple's three children, were relieved when they heard from a friend that Dick was "cool and calm" following the crash.

 

"He is a top yachtsman. He has been racing since he was eight years old," Jo Oliver said.

 

A Venezuelan Coast Guard spokesman said the couple was staying in La Guaira, 32km from the capital of Caracas.

 

Maritime New Zealand were not aware of their rescue.

 

The Chinook Wind was a 37ft Tayana designed by Robert Perry and built in Taiwan. A maritime source described the yacht as a solid and seaworthy ocean cruiser.

 

Dick Oliver is well-known in Thames and in the sailing community, Ganley said.

 

He left his job as a sign writer and designer a few years ago to sail around the world with his wife.

 

"It was one of his passions that he wanted to do. He was originally from Devonport and he's been sailing since he was a young fella."

 

It's understood the Olivers had completed two Atlantic crossings on Chinook Wind.

[Guest]

What a bummer.Good that they are ok.I havent seen it in the news yet but there is a singlehander missing off the west coast of Mexico.I think he probably fell overboard.They say his dingy is also missing but I suspect the locals got that when his Catalina 27 hit the beach.