Ten French sailors, who were rescued from a capsized racing trimaran 145 km east of the New Zealand South Island of Dunedin, were back on dry land, New Zealand media reported on Monday.
The Wellington-based Rescue Coordination Center NZ (RCCNZ) said three rescue helicopters winched the crew of the Groupama III to safety about 3:30 p.m. (02:30 GMT) Monday, and they had landed safely in Dunedin at Taieri Airfield.
RCCNZ spokesman Ross Henderson said the sailors were uninjured and all 10 were dressed in survival gear when they were picked up from the yacht's hull.
The Groupama III was taking part in the Jules Verne Round the World Yacht Race when it overturned.
RCCNZ launched a rescue mission after its equivalent in France called to report it had picked up a signal from the yacht, 406Mhz Emergency Position Indicating Radio Beacon (Epirb).
RCCNZ mission coordinator Keith Allen said the incident highlighted the value of people carrying this variety of Epirb, which had greatly assisted in the rescue.
Four helicopters were sent to the area, a fixed wing aircraft also assisted and an Air Force Orion was put on standby to help if required.
It was not yet known what caused the yacht to overturn.
Sea conditions at the time were moderate, with a two-meter swell and 30 knot southwestern winds.
Groupama III, a futuristic-looking single-masted trimaran skippered by Frenchman Franck Cammas, left the English Channel on its bid for the Jules Verne Trophy 24 days ago.
The trimaran is 32 meters long, with a beam of 22.55 meters.
The record for the round-world race, inspired by Verne's classic Around the World in Eighty Days tale of Phileas Fogg and Jean Passepartout, is 50 days 16 hours 20 minutes and four seconds, held by fellow Frenchman Bruno Peyron in his Orange 2 maxi-catamaran since 2005.
Source: Xinhua
|
Comment
Tell A Friend
Print Format
Save Article