The Navy has come to the aid of a 78-year-old yachtsman whose storm-battered boat was taking on water in the Tasman Sea.
The Mahi was found nearly 800 kilometres off the Brisbane coast. Photo: Supplied/ NZ Defence Force
The man's yacht, Mahi, was taking on water when it was found nearly 800 kilometres off the Brisbane coast.
He was in his fifth week at sea, on what was supposed to be a two-week sailing trip, after being both becalmed and battered by storms.
Lieutenant Commander Layamon Bakewell of HMNZS Te Kaha, said the Navy helped the man repair his boat, gave him food (including Marmite and Weetbix), water, and enough fuel to get him home.
"He was in incredibly good spirits, considering his situation. He welcomed us on board, and he was incredibly hungry," he said.
"One of the first things he said to me as we got on board was that he had absolutely no food on board, so we offered him something to eat straight away."
Lt Cdr Bakewell said he ran over the latest weather forecast with the skipper, constantly reminding him that the Navy could take him to port if he wanted.
"Certainly when I left the yacht, I reiterated to him again [whether he was] sure he wants to stay on board.
"He was in a pretty isolated position with not a lot of shipping going by and if he got into trouble again he might not have been so fortunate to have a warship passing by."
The naval crew came to the aide of the stricken yachtsman. Photo: Supplied/ NZ Defence Force
"But he was adamant to stay on board," he said.
"I was confident that the yacht was in a good enough condition, he had the supplies he needed and was more than capable of getting the yacht back into Brisbane by himself."
Lt Cdr Bakewell said the man was incredibly blown away by the assistance the Navy gave him, and despite being an Australian had no qualms about being given Marmite.
