A rescue mission has been launched to save two men whose yacht started to take on water during a storm off the coast of Australia and New Zealand.
Two New Zealanders, in their 70s, have been stranded on a yacht in the Tasman Sea for almost 36 hours after severe storms struck the boat 164 miles off the coast of Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea.
The men set off an emergency beacon about 5am, The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (Amsa) said.
“Amsa has been coordinating the rescue of two New Zealand crew members from a 14.2m sailing vessel currently 164nm (305km) East of Lord Howe Island in the Tasman Sea,” the statement read.
“Amsa’s has responded its Melbourne-based challenger rescue aircraft along with multiple Royal Australian Air Force aircraft which have been overhead since yesterday.
“Amsa has been in contact throughout with the crew and their family and all are in good spirits.”
Rescue workers are expected to get to the yacht by 11pm local time on Tuesday.
