Tasmanian yachtsman winched to safety in “hazardous” conditions after running aground

A Tasmanian yachtsman had to be rescued from hazardous conditions near Portsea after he put out a mayday call. Now, the need for his travel will be probed.

The yachtsman had to be rescued from hazardous conditions near Portsea. Picture: File

A Tasmanian yachtsman was winched to safety in “hazardous” conditions after he and his vessel ran aground near Portsea.

The giant rescue operation was sparked when the 67-year-old male skipper put out a mayday call over marine radio reporting he was in trouble.

Police said the man departed from Williamstown on Wednesday evening and was attempting to return to his home state.

The man lit a flare which helped water police and the coastguard pinpoint his exact location as his Nokia mobile phone did not have the capacity to give police a precise geographical location.

Acting Sergeant Rob Hiep said it was a “close call” between life and death for the man.

“The rescue itself was quite hazardous,” Mr Hiep said.

“I think he would have been very grateful. It is not exactly a great place to be if you are stuck on a rock.

“Port Phillip Heads is always a fairly treacherous part of water. Knowledge of the environment is essential.”

The dangerous weather conditions meant it was unsafe for the man to be winched from the deck so he was required to jump in the water in order for the Air Wing to winch him to safety.

The delicate rescue mission took close to three hours to complete.

The man was taken to Rosebud hospital and treated for mild hypothermia.

He will have to pay for the recovery of his 28-foot wooden yacht, understood to be a new purchase.

Police will conduct an investigation if the man was undertaking “essential travel” under the coronavirus restrictions.

“The Chief Health Officer has stated there are only four reasons to be out, and boating is not one of them,” Mr Hiep said.

“Just stay at home.”