Four Sailors Rescued After Yacht Strikes Whale Off Australian Coast

Four sailors, including two Australians, were rescued on Sunday after their yacht struck a whale and began sinking approximately 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island.

The crew of the Australian-flagged yacht Tai Tam, which also included a New Zealander and a French national, encountered the whale on Saturday. Following the collision, the vessel began taking on water.

Maritime New Zealand reported that the sailors abandoned the yacht and boarded a life raft. They were subsequently stranded at sea for several hours.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) received the distress call at approximately 1 p.m. on Saturday. The RCCNZ coordinated a rescue operation, and the sailors were ultimately pulled to safety at 6 a.m. on Sunday by the crew of the cargo ship MV Sofrana Surville.

Mike Clulow, RCCNZ operations manager, stated that the yacht was sailing in challenging conditions with seas of up to two meters. A Royal New Zealand Air Force P-8A Poseidon aircraft was dispatched to assist.

Clulow commended the sailors for their preparedness and for activating their emergency distress beacon promptly. "The crew of the yacht did all the right things, and it was unfortunate to have struck a whale in open water," he said. "They were well prepared and the early activation of their EPIRB was key to helping get them to safety. It is an excellent reminder that being prepared when going to sea can save your life."

The rescued sailors were transferred to the MV Sofrana Surville to be taken to the nearest port.