The injured crew of a yacht that rolled in 10m seas between
New Zealand and Tonga are awaiting rescue after activating
their emergency beacon yesterday evening.
A 43-year-old Auckland woman and a 52-year-old British man
are understood to have sustained mild to moderate head
injuries after their yacht - the 11.6m (38ft) Windigo -
rolled. The man also has a back injury, Maritime NZ reports.
The yacht left Tonga two days ago.
The yacht is afloat, but disabled and taking on water about
700km southwest of Tonga and 1260km northeast of New Zealand
in 40 knot (75kmh winds).
A RNZAF P3-Orion from Whenuapai reached the scene at 1am
today, establishing communications with the yacht and
dropping a liferaft.
It returned to New Zealand to refuel and is now en route to
investigate a second distress beacon from an unknown vessel
which was activated around 5am this morning 230km southwest
of Tonga.
Few vessels are in the area.
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