Medical – 01/21/2015 – 14:45 to 22/01/2015

A 13.4m ferro-cement yacht called for assistance while on a voyage from Gisborne to Tauranga as part of a longer voyage from Picton to Auckland.  The sole sailor on board was the owner/captain and reported on Ch16 that he was disorientated, had a medical condition and needed help.  The yacht was 20nm ENE of White Island and 40nm from Whakatane which was well outside NZ maritime boundary and in international waters.  Whakatane Rescue was tasked by RCCNZ and given dispensation by Maritime NZ to operate outside NZ territorial waters for the rescue. Whakatane Rescue departed at 16.25hr with a crew of six and water and food for the trip. The yacht was located at 18.10hr and the situation was assessed.  The captain was lucid but disorientated and very tired.  It was decided that three CRV crew would sail/motor the yacht back to Whakatane while the captain slept.  A course was set for Whakatane with Whakatane Rescue shadowing.  The yacht was making way under sail and power at 6kt.  When it became dark, Whakatane Rescue took the lead and the yacht followed and both vessels arrived off Kohi Point at 01.10hr 22 January.  It was low tide and the yacht’s draught was 1.5m so it was anchored off the bar until high tide the following morning.  Next morning it was escorted to a safe mooring in Whakatane River by Whakatane Rescue with a new crew.