Couple rescued from stricken catamaran
Boat aground 60km west of Gabo IslandPolice have rescued a couple in their 70s after their catamaran ran aground at Wingan Inlet, 60 kilometres west of Gabo Island last night (Sunday, May 13).
The husband and wife, both aged 75, were on a circumnavigation of Australia from their home port of Perth and were navigating a leg from Hobart to Eden when they struck trouble.
At approximately 4.00pm they managed to get a message to a friend who alerted police. A police member from Mallacoota managed to reach the couple after driving some distance and then trekking the final hour of remote coastline on foot.
The catamaran had been severely damaged with both rudders broken and a decision was made to abandon ship.
A helicopter from Sale set down on the beach, near the vessel, with a paramedic and a water police member on board to assist the couple. At 11.00pm, after being checked by the paramedic, the couple were flown to Mallacoota where they will spend the night. Ambulance Victoria spokesman Paul Bentley confirmed the couple were uninjured in the crash and did not need to be taken to hospital.
The catamaran was secured and will be salvaged at a later date.
At the time of the incident, conditions were rough with winds from the south to southwest at 25 to 35 knots. Seas were up to six metres. A gale warning had been issued at 10.00am for waters east of Mallacoota.
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