Men rescued from yacht

Press, 9 March 1987, Page 9

Men rescued from yacht

Three men, all in their early 20s, were rescued from their overturned catamaran in heavy surf about one km from the Sumner Surf Club yesterday afternoon. Their rescuers, Messrs Keith Tonkin, patrol captain of the Sumner Surf Club, and Daniel Upton, also of the Sumner club, fought the heavy surf for more than 40 minutes before the three men and their catamaran were brought safely ashore.

Although Mr Tonkin had made rescue attempts in the club’s Milburn 111 inflatable rescue craft before, it was a novel experience for Mr Upton, who is very deaf.

Mr Tonkin said of his friend, Mr Upton, “I was incredibly impressed. It was the first time he had had to rescue in an inflatable craft and the situation wasn’t one of the easiest I’ve been involved in.”

The three rescued men

were shaken but otherwise unhurt. As the surf was so high each man had to be brought individually to shore.

It was hoped the damaged catamaran would drift ashore without the weight of the three men clinging to it. When it did not, the rescuers decided to return to the craft, cut the sail from the broken mast and tow the catamaran ashore.