media release

DATE
TIME

18 FEBRUARY 2008
4.15PM

French yacht crew winched to safety

Ten sailors whose yacht overturned 80 nautical miles (145km) east of Dunedin today have been winched to safety by three rescue helicopters and are en route to Dunedin.

Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) facilitated the rescue response after its equivalent in France called at 1.20pm (NZDT) to report it had picked up a signal from the vessel’s 406Mhz Emergency Position indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB).

RCCNZ was able to speak to the crew via satellite phone and confirm that all on board the French trimaran Groupama III are uninjured. All were dressed in survival gear when they were picked up form the yacht’s hull.

The yacht was taking part in the Jules Verne Round the World Yacht Race when it overturned.

Weather in the area consists of 2m swells and south-westerly winds of 30 knots.

More information will be made available as and when it becomes available.

ENDS

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