Air Force Orion returns to assist yacht

A Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion has been called on for a second time to assist the yacht, 'Boundless', as it makes its way to Auckland.

The vessel, sailing from Brisbane, activated a second distress beacon and an Orion has been tasked by the New Zealand Rescue Coordination Centre to return to the boat to ascertain the safety of the three persons on board.

Yesterday evening an Air Force Orion was dispatched to locate the missing yacht between North Cape and Norfolk Island after the NZRCC received an initial distress beacon.

The 13 metre sloop was located by the Orion crew at 5:50pm after starting their visual search. The three people on board were found to be well although the yacht experienced some communications problems in addition to some sail damage due to the weather conditions.

Updates will follow as more information becomes available.

ENDS

Background notes:

The RNZAF maintains a P-3K Orion and crew on 24-hour search and rescue call out 365 days of the year. A permanent crew is always on two hour call out standby.

The P-3K Orion has a flight time of 15 hours during search and rescue operations with engines shut down to preserve fuel.

The RNZAF is funded for 80 search and rescue flying hours annually.

No.5 Squadron is one of the force elements under the command of the Air Component Commander JFHQ. Located at RNZAF Base Auckland, the Squadron is the RNZAF's only maritime patrol squadron. It is responsible for surveillance of New Zealand's maritime area of interest, which is approximately 1/12 of the world's ocean surface, ranging from the Antarctic to the equator.

There are currently 685 New Zealand Defence Force personnel deployed on 14 operations, UN missions and defence exercises around the world.

For more information please contact Squadron Leader Kavae Tamariki, Defence Communications Group on 04 496 0294 or 021 420 0290.