Operation Rescue "Lamachan" Yachtsman

Capt. John Cuthbert making sure that the gentleman will be rescued.
Rockwater 2 crews on standby.
Helicopter Rescue. Note: Australian Warship was not sighted.

Actual article from Reuters

Australian warship to rescue British yacht

Thu Aug 2, 2007 5:53AM BST

CANBERRA (Reuters) - An Australian warship is sailing to rescue a lone British yachtsman whose vessel ran aground on a reef east of the Australian mainland, rescue officials said.

The sailor's yacht sent a distress signal at 5 p.m. (8 a.m. British time) on Wednesday and a navy frigate sailed on Thursday morning from south of Sydney.

The yacht ran aground on Elizabeth Reef, 100 nautical miles (185 km) north of Lord Howe Island, a spokeswoman for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority told Reuters.

"There is one British man about the yacht, named the "Lamachan"," she told Reuters.

Lord Howe Island is 600 km (373 miles) off the mainland's east coast.

A catamaran remained near the yacht, while two search-and-rescue aircraft were circling, the spokeswoman said. A merchant vessel had also been diverted.

The frigate HMAS Ballarat was expected be close enough to the yacht to send a helicopter by around 4 p.m. (7 a.m. British time) and winch the man aboard.

"The yacht is taking on water and is in danger of breaking up in heavy seas and strong winds," Defence spokesman Brigadier Andrew Nikolic told journalists in Canberra.

Elizabeth Reef is at latitude 29°56'S and longitude 159°05'E, and is regarded as one of the southernmost coral reefs in the world.