Search for crew from yacht wrecked off Tonga

Searching is underway for two men missing after the 50ft yacht Navillus was wrecked off the island of Late, west of the island of Vava'u, Tonga, on Thursday night.

The Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) is coordinating the search for the Australian and and Englishman, both in their sixties, who reported via a satellite phone call to a relative in Victoria, Australia, that they had run aground and their Bavaria yacht was breaking up.

An emergency locator beacon was activated at the same time, around 10.30pm.

Search and rescue mission coordinator Geoff Lunt said an RNZAF Orion was sent to the area this morning and had searched the drift area identified by RCCNZ, so far without success.  Two fishing boats from Vava’u were also involved in the search.

“They have located the hull of the vessel, and seen a lot of debris,” Mr Lunt said.  “The yacht’s dinghy has been found, and a undeployed liferaft, as well as a number of lifejackets.

“There are a number of potential landing points on the island near to where the hull was found, and crew from one of the search vessels has gone ashore to inspect these.”

The fishing boats have now left the search area in order to reach port before nightfall, with the Orion also due to land in Tonga.  It is planned to resume the search tomorrow.

“Survival time in the water is estimated at 36 hours and this would be extended if lifejackets were worn,” Mr Lunt said.

The yacht is understood to have been en route from the Caribbean to Bundaberg.
The Police in Victoria are coordinating contact with the next of kin.

Note to media:  An update will be issued at 8am tomorrow (Saturday).

RCCNZ will not release the names of those involved.