Four sailors were rescued in the South Pacific after their yacht collided with a whale and began taking on water.
The incident occurred on September 26, approximately 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island. The 15.5-metre Australian-flagged yacht Tai Tam was seriously damaged after striking the whale. All four people on board were forced to abandon the vessel and enter a life raft.
At around 1:00 p.m., the crew activated the yacht’s Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB). The signal was received by New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre, which deployed a Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon maritime patrol aircraft.
The aircraft located the life raft and established two-way radio communication with the sailors. Ships operating in the surrounding area were simultaneously asked to assist with the rescue.
The 143-metre containership Sofrana Surville, which was sailing from Tauranga to Nouméa, responded to the request. The vessel diverted from its route and was the first ship to reach the scene.
At approximately 6:00 a.m. the following morning, the containership’s crew brought all four sailors safely aboard. No injuries were reported, and the survivors were transported towards the nearest port.
Rescue officials said the yacht’s crew had followed the correct emergency procedures. The early activation of the EPIRB was considered a key factor in the successful operation.
No information has been released regarding the condition of the whale following the collision.
