(June 17, 2019) – Having departed Opua on June 9th for Tonga, yacht Squander suffered major mast rig failure three days into the passage. Turning around and battling headwinds for four days, the crew finally had to abandon the yacht just 90km off Great Barrier Island.

Published 5 years ago

Forfar and Sally Petrie had owned their 14m Jeanneau, Sun Odyssey “Squander” since 2012 and lived on board for the past 4 years cruising NZ, Vanuatu and New Caledonia. With two additional crew members on board for the passage to Tonga, they were well prepared for the next stage of their cruising adventures into the South Pacific.

After leaving Opua in the North Island, NZ on June 9th they experienced mast rig failure three days later, mid-passage. After jury-rigging three shrouds, they decided to turn around and head back to NZ under power with just light sails.

The Rescue Coordination Centre NZ (RCCNZ) were alerted to their situation via satellite phone and were monitoring yacht Squander’s progress back to NZ.

Heading west they battled headwinds for 4 days running low on fuel. The yacht could only sail on starboard tack so their options were limited.

On June 15th RCCNZ co-ordinated a fuel drop from a container ship, 90km ENE off Great Barrier Island, but in the process, Squander’s mast finally toppled. The container ship MV Maersk Tauranga waited close-by but were unable to effect a rescue in the sea conditions.

On the morning of June 16th, the crew activated their EPIRB and abandoned the yacht to the liferaft. Two Auckland Westpac Rescue helicopters came to the rescue and winched all four crew members from the liferaft a few hours later.

The crew were flown back to Auckland.

Maritime New Zealand have issued a warning that the Squander is now drifting unmanned in the Pacific Ocean.

FM: RCC NEW ZEALAND 160238 UTC JUN 19
COASTAL NAVIGATION WARNING 105/19
AREAS COLVILLE AND PLENTY
1. YACHT ADRIFT IN VICINITY 35-49.73S 176-38.00E 60 NAUTICAL MILES ENE OF WHAKATAUTUNA POINT, GREAT BARRIER ISLAND.

As reported by:

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