Couple rescued from sinking yacht

A couple rescued from partly submerged yacht did ‘‘everything’ right’’ when it started taking on water, the Nelson Coastguard says.

Two crew on a trimaran yacht put out a distress call on Thursday at 7pm after the vessel began taking on water.

Nelson Coastguard spokesperson Pete Kara said the 12-metre, multi-hull boat from Delaware Bay had a hatch cover damaged during heavy seas, enabling water to quickly fill the port hull and partly submerge the vessel.

Kara said the couple did ‘‘everything right’’, including getting to a safe harbour, wearing life jackets and making the distress call early.

Once in the lee of Pepin Island, northeast of Nelson, they continued to bail out water until help arrived, he said. ‘‘They were definitely partially submerged. The porthole was completely submerged. They did a fantastic job of keeping that thing moving.

‘‘The rescue, while a success, shows the importance of having good communications, calling for assistance early and use of CH 16 to alert others in your area you need assistance,’’ he said.

The Nelson Coastguard towed the vessel to Nelson Marina, where the water was pumped out.