'I like dry land now': Sailors make port in Sydney after being stranded in rough seas
Two friends are thankful to be back on dry land after spending the night stranded on a yacht nearly 200km off the NSW coast.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority received an emergency alert from the Spirit of Mateship, which police said had lost its rudder and was taking on water, at 12.40pm yesterday.
Terrible sea conditions, six-metre-high waves and 60-knot winds delayed the rescue until about 7.25am, when 48-year-old Lisa and 60-year-old Brett were safely retrieved.
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Two friends are thankful to be back on dry land after spending the night stranded on a yacht nearly 200km off the New South Wales coast. Nine
The pair arrived back in Sydney this evening and fronted the media to thank emergency services for their efforts.
They said they were happy to be back on land, with a coffee and meat pie in their hands, and were looking forward to being reunited with their families.
"We had a good sleep on the way back, didn't sleep much last night," Lisa said.
"We were tired, sea sick, we couldn't continue any further and that was the decision we made, to call," Brett said.
"I like dry land now."
While Brett may be taking it easy, Lisa said she's heading back out onto the water in a couple days but said she won't venture out as far.
The two friends had been on their way to Queensland after leaving from Jervis Bay a day ago.
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Two people have been rescued from a stranded yacht after a major sea operation off the NSW coast. NSW Police
The overnight rescue
Following the emergency call for help, three helicopters arrived on the scene but weren't able to retrieve the sailors.
NSW Marine Area Command Chief Inspector Anthony Brazzill said the conditions were too dangerous to retrieve them via helicopter.
"Due to the conditions it was unsafe, there was even consideration with the military whether they would be an airlift off the boat," he said.
"The conditions just meant it was unsafe for everyone [involved]."
Brazzill called the conditions "terrible," with waves six metres high and 60-knot winds slamming into the yacht.
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Brazzil called the conditions "terrible," with waves six metres high and 60-knot winds slamming into the yacht. Nine
The NSW Police vessel Nemesis and the Navy ships HMAS Canberra and HMAS Arunta were dispatched on a rescue mission, making contact with the two sailors about 1am.
However, rough conditions forced the rescue operation into suspension, although the vessels remained near the yacht.
The rescue resumed at first light.
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The rescue faced heavy ocean conditions. NSW Police
About 7.25am, Lisa and Brett were safely rescued uninjured.
Brazzill said the pair had to jump from the yacht, and crews onboard the police boat caught them.
"It's extremely difficult, those conditions were a lot worse than the video footage shows, they were terrible," he said.
"It could have been life-threatening if we didn't get there in time."
Lisa and Brett were put on board the Nemesis to travel back to Sydney.
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