Person rescued from yacht after five-hour ordeal in Marlborough

Oct 27, 2025

A person has been rescued after issuing a mayday call from a yacht in the Marlborough Sounds.

Maritime New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCCNZ) said it received a distress beacon alert from a yacht in Cook Strait around 1am on Sunday.

Maritime radio confirmed to RCCNZ the yacht was sinking with one persona board, approximately 24km from Cape Koamaru.

Two commercial vessels and Marlborough Coastguard were sent to the location.

The Seapatroller vessel rescued the uninjured person on board, who was taken back to shore.

Maritime NZ said the rescue took about five-and-a-half-hours, with challenging weather conditions affecting access to the vessel.

RCCNZ thanked everyone involved in the rescue for a “swift and professional response”.