Hi Wendy
I have attached a photo taken this morning by the RNZAF Orion search aircraft showing TAR BABY II dismasted.
The Taiwanese longline fishing vessel TUNAGO #31 is expected to rendezvous with Louie and Alicia at approximately 11:00am your time. There are no vessels that can assist from Niue despite our best endeavours. The TUNAGO #31 is enroute to Pago Pago in Samoa and unfortunately that will be the next port of call for Louie and Alicia.
I will contact you again when I know the transfer to the fishing vessel has been completed.
Kind regards
John Ashby
Search and Rescue Officer
Maritime New Zealand
Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ)
T +64 4 5778030
F +64 4 5778038
W www.maritimenz.govt.nz/contact-rccnz
And her follow up email:
Hi Everyone
Latest news from New Zealand Search and Rescue. Both Louis and Alicia are on board the Taiwanese fishing vessel and are heading for Samoa. The NZ rescue staff could not persuade them to take Louis and Alicia to Niuie ( only 75 miles away) and they have had to abandon the yacht. It is closed fast/hatches battened down and a shipping warning has been issued.
I am hoping that another vessel might be able to pick it up and tow it to Niuie for Louis and Alicia to reclaim. Maybe a fellow yachtsman could help - other wise it looks like goodbye Tar Baby. If anyone has any boating/yachting contacts who may be able to assist that would be great.
Regards
Wendy
Hi Alicia & Louie,
ReplyDeleteI was part of the crew on the RNZAF Orion that carried out the search & rescue for Tar Baby, as well as a yachtie myself. I have wondered since then - did you ever see or hear of her again?
Wayne (aldous2000deluxe@hotmail.com)