Down Under Rally sailor rescued off Bundaberg coast

A solo sailor travelling from the South Pacific as part of an annual international rally was rescued off the coast of Bundaberg on Thursday.

Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg crew towing in the stranded yacht.

A solo sailor travelling from the South Pacific as part of an annual international rally was rescued off the coast of Bundaberg on Thursday.

The international yacht was sailing from Noumea, New Caledonia along the Australian coastline to Tasmania as part of the Down Under Rally when it ran out of fuel.

With minimal winds, the yacht was left stranded roughly 81 nautical miles from Burnett Heads and the sailor had no choice but to call on rescue assistance.

At roughly 10am on Thursday, September 28, the Volunteer Marine Rescue Bundaberg team received the call and met the sailor off the coast of Burnett Heads.

Skipper Erwin Hoffman guided a three-man crew through the rescue, as they towed the international yacht in to refuel.

The rescue was not without some pleasantries as the team reported watching three whales breach as they entered the mouth of the Burnett River.

Duty skipper Jim Percy said the rescue went like clockwork for the team, with the sailor in good spirits.

“It went like clockwork, we didn’t have any problems at all,” he said.

“We just decided it would be an easier, quicker option than him coming into Bundaberg, in the dark when he didn’t know the area.”

The four-hour rescue was the most recent of “hundreds” Mr Percy has completed throughout his years with the VMR team.

He said the sighting of three whales on the return journey was a highlight.

“It’s always makes it a more fun event if you see something good and you have a good outcome,” Mr Percy said.

“Marine life is always a highlight every time we go out.”