Sydney-to-Hobart yacht Helsal II finally back at Outer Harbor marina after more trouble near North Haven beach
An iconic Sydney-to-Hobart yacht that sunk off an Adelaide beach last week has finally been recovered – but not without first finding more trouble.
SA News
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The marathon effort to recover a sunken yacht near the Grange Jetty has reached its conclusion, but not without more trouble at the weekend.
Helsal II is now moored at the Royal South Australian Yacht Squadron (RSAYS) marina after arriving back on Sunday evening.
The iconic yacht – which raced in the Sydney to Hobart several times in the 90s and 2000s – was freed from the sandbar at the Grange Jetty on Friday and was expected to arrive back on Saturday.
However, the yacht found more trouble while being towed off North Haven beach.
A source told The Advertiser the boat “had some difficulties” on Saturday and had to remain off the North Haven shoreline throughout Saturday and Sunday.
Rescuers were able to free the boat again and tow it back to the marina late on Sunday.
The RSAYS posted to Facebook on Monday morning to confirm that after eight days, the saga had reached its conclusion.
“After a lot of hard work, Helsal II is back in the RSAYS marina for assessment,” the post read.
An accompanying picture showed the battered boat being held above water by flotation devices and ropes.
The yacht’s mast was nowhere to be seen with one commenter suggesting it was “off North Haven beach”.
Helsal II first became trapped on the sandbar near Grange Jetty on the evening of July 15 during a test run.
It was abandoned by its skipper after taking on water.
After several unsuccessful attempts to right the vessel last week, specialist retrieval teams used a combination of floats, airbags and pumps to bring the 70ft yacht to the surface on Friday.
Retrieval crews assisted by two divers worked for several hours to take advantage of the high tide.
By late afternoon the Helsal II was able to be towed to deeper water, with plans to take it on to Outer Harbor.
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