Darwin sailors spend night clinging to capsized boat at sea

UPDATED: A father and son spent the night clinging to what was left of their 16ft catamaran after it capsized, started to break up in Darwin Harbour, and began drifting out into the open ocean.

The livestock vessel the Ganado Express found two Darwin sailors who spent the night clinging to their capsized catamaran. Their vessel is circled. Pictures: NT Police

A father and son spent the night clinging to what was left of their 16ft catamaran after it capsized, started to break up in Darwin Harbour, and began drifting out into the open ocean.

Sergeant John Pini from the Water Police said the ordeal came to an end about 8am on Sunday morning, when the crew of a Singaporean flagged live cattle export ship on its way into the harbour spotted the man and his son, the tide having taken them from Fannie Bay to near Charles Point patches, on the very edge of the harbour.

The remaining part of the capsized catamaran the sailors clung to. Pictures: NT Police

“No doubt they had a very harrowing night but they have come out of it relatively unscathed,” Sgt Pini said.

He said the father and son, aged 49 and 15, were regular sailors,

“From what I understand, both of them had some experience with the Hobie Cat (catamaran),” he said.

“It’s a bit of a past time for them, so they had sufficient experience to carry out those duties.”

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He said their catamaran has broken up and had begun drifting out to sea.

Police and Careflight began searching about 10pm on Saturday night using night vision equipment, after a family member reported they had not returned home after setting out at 11am.

The crew of the Ganado Express, a 138m live export ship spotted the men shortly after helicopters had began scouring the coastline, and as a police aeroplane was about to take off to search further out to sea.

The sailors spent the night clinging to what was left of their 15ft catamaran after it capsized and were found near where the red dot is.

Police boats were also poised to join the search morning effort on Sunday.

“I think the main thing that we would say in this circumstance is that communication is really vital to getting rescued, whether that is in the form of an emergency beacon, a mobile phone, a VHF marine radio or some other means of communication, that will make all the difference,” Sgt Pini said.

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Sgt Pini said it was “very highly likely” that rough weather capsized the catamaran.

He said the sailers did “exactly the right thing” by telling family when they expected to be home.

A rescue helicopter circled the Ganado Express as the sailers were helped aboard, and Sgt Pini said reports from the ship’s captain were that both sailers were in “good order” with no need for medical help.

The sailors stayed on board the ship until it docked at East Arm late on Sunday morning

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Sgt Pini said: “While these two boaties have been very lucky, it could have had a tragic outcome.

“Having an appropriate form of communication while out on the water is vital to ensure that if prevailing conditions change, you can seek assistance where required.”

Sergeant John Pini at NT Water Police headquarters said the man and the boy could have died. Picture: Katrina Bridgeford