Northern Territory Police responded to an emergency beacon (EPIRB) activation off the coast of Nhulunbuy yesterday.
At approximately 9.30am, Water Police in Darwin were advised by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) of a beacon activation some 50 nautical miles (approximately 93km) northeast of Nhulunbuy.
The beacon was registered to a 10.4m sailing yacht which was sailing between Darwin and Nhulunbuy.
AMSA deployed a fixed-wing aircraft from Cairns to survey the location whilst Nhulunbuy Police launched PVV Nhulunbuy with three crew who headed towards the beacon activation point.
The AMSA Challenger Jet advised soon after that the yacht was drifting and the lone sailor was in the water some 23km from his vessel. The crew managed to drop a life raft to the skipper who was eventually able to scramble inside and make radio contact. He advised that he had been knocked into the water by a freak gust of wind and could not make it back to the boat before it drifted away.
Nhulunbuy Police were advised and kept in constant contact with Challenger which was circling above.
Due to the poor weather and heavy seas, PVV Nhulunbuy took some five hours to reach the stranded yachty, who was overjoyed at seeing police. The return journey took another five hours and the yachty was conveyed by St John Ambulance to Gove District Hospital for a check-up. He was in good health and had no visible injuries.
A/Superintendent Michael Milde said, "What a great effort by all involved in challenging conditions. The team work displayed by all agencies including AMSA, Water Police and Nhulunbuy police members certainly saved this man's life. The actions of the yachty himself are also to be commended. The fact that he was wearing a life jacket which had a personal locator beacon attached highlighted the importance of carrying and correctly utilising the correct safety equipment whilst at sea. The end result would have been tragic if not for this equipment.
"The Nhulunbuy members who rescued the skipper delivered some well-deserved chocolates to him in hospital this morning.
"Unfortunately due to the deteriorating weather conditions we were unable to recover the yacht, however we are tracking its progress and will keep the owner informed."
