Nightmare ends for yachtsmen stranded at sea since Monday

An almost week-long mission to rescue three yachtsmen has finally come to a successful end with the trio landing at Port Stephens.

The crew of the Solar Coaster with their rescuers on board a police boat at Nelson Bay, Port Stephens. Picture: Supplied by NSW Police

Yachtsmen who were stuck at sea for five days after the mast snapped off their vessel have finally reached dry land.

Police had been working to help the three men and bring them back to shore since Monday, as they drifted in the Tasman Sea.

A police vessel tows the listless yacht into Nelson Bay at Port Stephens on Saturday. It was a week-long operation save the yachtsmen. Picture: Supplied by NSW Police

The yachtsmen issued a mayday distress call around 10pm on Monday after the 11.5m Solar Coaster they were steering de-masted, some 100 nautical miles (about 185km) west of Lord Howe Island.

The call sparked a joint search by NSW Police Force’s Marine Area Command and the Australian Maritime Safety Authority.

About midmorning on Tuesday, a plane dropped fuel, a satellite phone and other supplies to the trio.

The crew of the 11.5m Solar Coaster head into Nelson Bay after a week long police operation to rescue them and their yacht: Supplied by NSW Police

The satellite phone allowed the crew to communicate with a police vessel, which intercepted the Solar Coaster some 200 nautical miles (about 370km) from the NSW coast on Thursday.

The police vessel, which had towed the yacht for almost two days, arrived at Nelson Bay, Port Stephens about 10.30am (AEDT) on Saturday when the men were reunited with their families.