Bass Strait Sailors Await Rescue

8:51 PM Fri 16 Jan 2009 GMT
A Water Police crew is negotiating rolling seas in the Bass Strait to rescue two stranded sailors in a yacht which has lost propulsion. The condition of the yacht is unknown, but the two crew onboard, believed to be experienced sailors, were lucky to have their distress call answered by an aero rescue plane responding to another job in the area.

Police were notified about 8:30 this morning the 10 metre yacht had come to a halt almost 90 nautical miles from Portland and up to 70 nautical miles from King Island; around a 10 hour trip from the Water Police headquarters in Williamstown.

The sailors told authorities they weren't injured nor in any danger, and have adequate supplies and safety equipment.

However communication has ceased during the day due to the frequency limitations of the sailors' radio.

As Water Police near their destination an aero rescue plane is expected to fly overhead to guide the 15ft Water Police boat and to resume communications with the sailors.

The plan at this stage is to either tow the sailors' yacht to Victorian shores or to King Island.

It is believed the sailors were enroute from Adelaide to Strachan.

by Australia.to/Sail-World

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