Injured sailor airlifted from dismasted Ausmaid off Queensland coast

6:19 AM Thu 2 Apr 2009 GMT

'Ausmaid' Daryl Krasu

An injured crewman has been winched to safety by a helicopter from a dismasted yacht in big seas off southern Queensland, but his two shipmates are still aboard awaiting rescue.

South south easterly winds were gusting to 40 knots over the last few hours in the area, although they have begun to moderate.

The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) says the yacht is Aus Maid. Its has now been confirmed if this is the Farr 47 Ausmaid, the dual 1996 and 2000 Sydney to Hobart race winner.

Around 1:30pm this afternoon the AGL Action Rescue rescue helicopter winched the sailor suffering with back injuries from the yacht, which was dismasted after rolling near Double Island Point. The sailor has been transferred to an ambulance in Maroochydore and taken to hospital for treatment.

AMSA says another two sailors on still on board the dismasted vessel around eight miles northeast of Noosa Heads.

Local media has been told that a Coastguard vessel is being sent to rescue them or take the yacht in tow, but the seas are running at six metres.

A ship to ship transfer in such a seaway would be very dangerous, although a liferaft could be deployed, or alternatively the sailors may have to be rescued by helicopter if the Coastguard vessel can't get them aboard.

by Sail-World.com

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