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Yachtsman rescued off Norfolk Island
The New Zealand yachtie Phil van der Mespel was rescued off Norfolk Island by the "Norfolk Guardian" nearly 200 km east of Norfolk Island after his 10-m yacht "Waimanu II" sank on Nov 18, 2017. Van der Mespel was sailing solo from Vanuatu to Marsden Point on his 10-metre sloop. 30-knot winds had broken the yacht's mast, puncturing its hull. He was forced to abandon the "Waimanu II" and was spotted by an RNZAF Hercules drifting in rough seas on a life raft at 11.50 a.m. 166 km east of Norfolk Island. The RNZAF Hercules dropped a package with food, water, and a note to Phil's life raft, but he was unable to do much more than wave back for much of his time. The rescue was completed at around 3 p.m., but the cargo ship was unable to dock as atrocious conditions continued in the Pacific. A combination of high swells and limited harbour facilities on Norfolk Island, about 1000 kilometres north of New Zealand, meant the cargo ship was waiting in a sheltered spot north east of the island. Van der Mespel was expected to be dropped off on Norfolk island on Nov 20 as weather cleared. Report with photos: https://www.stuff.co.nz/national/99027458/ordeal-not-over-for-new-zealand-yachtie-rescued-off-norfolk-island
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