Volunteers from Australia's Marine Rescue NSW have safely returned two people to shore after their 13.5-metre yacht lost steering 18 nautical miles off Newcastle in New South Wales on Thursday, February 20.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector Steve Raymond said volunteer radio operators at Marine Rescue Sydney State Communications Centre answered a call for assistance just before 19:00 local time on Thursday.
"The skipper of the distressed vessel advised Marine Rescue Sydney that they had lost steering and needed assistance to return to Newcastle Harbour," said Raymond.
At the request of NSW Police Marine Area Command, Marine Rescue Newcastle assembled a crew of volunteer members and deployed the rigid inflatable boat (RIB) Newcastle 30 at around 20:00.
"Conditions were challenging throughout the entire mission with the Newcastle 30 crew battling one-and-a-half- to two-metre swells," added Raymond.
The RIB reached the distressed vessel just after 22:00 and secured a towline before making the trip back to Newcastle Harbour.
"The return trip was a slow three-hour operation because of the conditions, with Newcastle 30 travelling at three to four knots," said Raymond. "Newcastle 30 safely manoeuvred the distressed vessel and its crew to a mooring."