Help is on the way after a Polish man on a round-the-world yachting voyage got into trouble off the Chatham Islands, the Defence Force says.
The 64-year-old activated his emergency beacon yesterday afternoon.
An Air Force Orion left Whenuapai airbase in Auckland early this morning to find the boat.
Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the crew made contact with the man about 10am.
"He was able to tell the crew that there was something wrong with his vessel and they interpreted that they think it was the helm, so some steering issues, and then they were able to depart the scene back for New Zealand," he said.
A nearby commercial vessel was now en route to help him out.
