Mates forced to jump for their lives after yacht runs aground

A weekend boating trip has ended in disaster for two men forced to jump for their lives as waves slammed their yacht onto a beach in Sydney's south.

Experienced boatie Joel Antell and friend Tom set off in Sailing Free from Bateman’s Bay in bound for Lake Macquarie this morning.

The pair anticipated a southerly wind, but what they received off Cronulla quickly turned their leisurely trip into an emergency.

As they cruised past the headland, 80km/hr winds ripped in; they tried to get the yacht port, hacking to drop anchor, but within minutes of it going in it snapped. There was only one way to go, Mr Antill told 9news.

“We had no choice but to abandon ship,” he said.

Mr Antill was plucked from Wanda Beach by life-guards and did not require hospitalisation. Tom, 76, suffered shock and was taken to hospital as a precaution.

“When he got into the shore he was weak, he couldn’t stand up,” witness Max Smith said.

Mr Antill said he will not soon forget the dramatic rescue, nor the fast-response from eagle-eyed life-guards.

“They did a fantastic job.”

It could be days before the yacht is repaired and the yachties will have to pay for the salvage.

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