QLD: Stranded Norwegian sailors rescued from Coral Sea

AAP General News (Australia)
08-19-1999
QLD: Stranded Norwegian sailors rescued from Coral Sea

BRISBANE, Aug 19 AAP - Two Norwegian sailors stranded in the Coral sea for 24 hours after
their catamaran was dismasted have been picked up by a passing freighter.

The Capricorn Star took the men on board at 11pm last night and was headed to Gladstone
today.

David Gray, a spokesman for the The Australian Maritime Safety Authority's search and
rescue division AusSAR, said a French aircraft from New Caledonia dropped a liferaft to the
men yesterday.

Then an RAAF Hercules took over and monitored the situation because the catamaran,
wallowing in heavy seas, was too far out to be reached by helicopter.

The sailors, both in their 60s, had issued a mayday call via e-mail to a company in the
United States, which alerted Australian authorities.

AAP geb/wjf

KEYWORD: CATAMARAN DAYLEAD

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