Kiwi yachtie spotted in life raft after ocean drama

A New Zealander has been found drifting on a life raft in rough seas after his yacht got into trouble 166km east of Norfolk Island.

Phil van der Mespel was yesterday buffeted by rough, three-metre swells amid strong 30-knot winds having been forced to abandon his yacht, Waimanu.

A commercial vessel eventually rescued him around 3pm and last night he was heading home, uninjured.

His wife Jenny said she was fairly calm on learning her husband’s emergency beacon had been activated, but "got the shakes" when New Zealand Rescue Co-ordination Centre (NZRCC) called to say his life raft had been spotted. She said she was relieved and thankful for the help and skill of the NZRCC.

The New Zealand Defence Force sent an RNZAF Hercules from Auckland early yesterday morning.

Air Commodore Darryn Webb said the crew had dropped a survival pack with water, food and a note to the yachtsman.

Search and Rescue Mission Coordinator Dave Wilson said that the C-130 Hercules found the yachtsman in Waimanu’s life raft at 11.50am and would remain overhead until the commercial ship, the Norfolk Guardian, arrived on the scene.

Maritime New Zealand added that the yachtsman was moving and seemed unharmed but had not been able to radio the Hercules.

Van der Mespel was sailing solo from Vanuatu to Marsden Point on his 10-metre sloop, Waimanu.

Norfolk Island belongs to Australia and is about 1000 kilometres north of New Zealand.