An elderly couple are lucky to be alive after their yacht hit
rocks and sank in choppy seas north of Wellington last night,
police say.
The Wellington boaties, aged in their 70s, were a few hundred
metres off shore at Plimmerton Beach when their 7.6-metre
yacht hit rocks about 9.45pm, Inspector Paul Jermy of
Wellington police said.
The couple called police from a cellphone and managed to
climb into a small dinghy as their yacht lost power and took
on water in choppy seas.
They set off flares and remained in touch with police to
inform rescuers of their location and the sea conditions.
They were rescued by a Mana Coastguard vessel just as their
boat sank in about 22m of water.
A Westpac Rescue helicopter with a winch was also sent to the
scene, but was not needed.
The couple, who were wearing life jackets, remained calm
throughout the ordeal, Mr Jermy said.
They were checked by ambulance staff on shore and were able
to return home last night.
The yacht and dinghy were both lost, and were expected to
wash ashore in the next few days.
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