Coast guards rescue 28ft yacht beached on Macleay Island

Coast guards have pulled off an elaborate rescue — towing a 28-foot sailing yacht back to deep water after it was blown aground during strong winds last week.

The Pelargica had to be rescued from Macleay Island after it broke mooring during strong winds last week.

REDLAND BAY coast guards have rescued a 28-foot sailing yacht that had blown aground during fierce winds last week.

Strong south-westerly winds caused the Pelargica to break its mooring last week and end up on the hard at Macleay Island.

SUBSCRIBE TO REDLANDS COMMUNITY NEWS & THE COURIER MAIL: JUST $1 A WEEK FOR FIRST 12 WEEKS

A local island resident contacted the water police, who tracked down the yacht’s owners who lived at Yandina on the Sunshine Coast.

The Pelargica was towed off Macleay Island by two coast guard vessels. Picture: Supplied

The owners, who had reportedly just bought the boat and had spent some time cleaning it up, contacted the Redland Bay Coast Guard.

Commander Jason Boon said after three hours of planning, two boats travelled to Macleay on Friday night to make the rescue.

The Pelargica was returned safely to the deep water by 9pm.

Mr Boon said they had to use “the mast as a lever” but the vessel was eventually healed over and towed to deeper water.

He said the owners were “ecstatic”.

“They were pretty happy to have it floating and undamaged and back out in the water,” he said.

Mr Boon said rescuing vessels that had run aground made up a “fair chunk” of the jobs volunteers were called to.

He said it supported the State Government’s War on Wrecks taskforce.

As of January 2019, 96 wrecks had been removed from Queensland waters as part of the War on Wrecks.