Whale sinks yacht in South Pacific, sailors rescued alive 18 hours later
Summary
A sperm whale struck and broke the hull of a yacht in the South Pacific, forcing four sailors to abandon ship and survive 18 hours before rescue. The crew activated an emergency beacon, and a container ship saved them after they transferred to a life raft.Key Facts
- The yacht, named Tai Tam, was 52 feet long and sailing 250 nautical miles north of Norfolk Island.
- The whale collision caused serious damage, breaking the hull and steering equipment.
- The sailors activated an emergency distress signal about 30 minutes after the collision.
- They spent hours bailing water and trying to slow flooding before abandoning ship at night.
- The crew cut the yacht loose before it sank to avoid being pulled underwater.
- A large container ship, MV Sofrana Surville, rescued them approximately 18 hours later.
- Rescue efforts were coordinated by New Zealand’s military and included a patrol plane.
- Sperm whales are around 50 to 60 feet long and are considered a vulnerable species due to population decline.
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