Yacht beached in Bass Strait after 18 hour storm battle

1:46 AM Tue 13 Apr 2010 GMT

'Tess and Leah Gilbertson - photo by Bruce Mounster' .

Yacht Thorendor was beached by its owner after losing an 18 hour battle with gale force winds in Bass Strait this week. Simon Gibertson of Binalong Bay deliberately beached his 13 metre steel yacht because he decided to sacrifice the yacht rather than endangering his two young daughters.

The family was then rescued from the beach where they were stranded, a helicopter being forced to land on a nearby ridge rather than the beach because of the high winds.

Simon, his wife Kamin and their two daughters Tess, 8, and Leah, 6, were on a family voyage heading for Queensland for a holiday, and reached the remote Erith Island between Flinders Island and the mainland, on Friday. The weather was good, and they remained there until Sunday when the wind increased to gale force and the yacht started to drag its anchors.

Thorendor beached on Erith Island - photo by Bruce Mounster - .. .

The family tried for about 18 hours to stabilise the yacht with extra anchors and motoring but late on Sunday evening decided to put it on the beach and radio for help. Simon Gilbertson said he decided to beach the boat on Erith Island rather than risk the lives of his daughters

The family contacted a person on nearby Deal Island via Marine VHF radio and authorities on the Tasmanian mainland were notified.

Police Rescuer Peter Hampton told Tasmania's Mercury it had been an extreme rescue with 40-knot winds too strong for the helicopter to land on the beach or winch the family from the beach. Instead it had to land on a ridge and it took rescuers about half an hour to reach the family, through dense scrub.

He said the rescue was unusual in that the family was found in good shape, having access to food and shelter after abandoning ship.

Erith Island in calm weather - .. .

Mr Hampton said he believed they made it to shore without having to swim, and he did not believe there would be much left of their yacht in the wake of the storm.

'My two beautiful girls are alive, that's the main thing,' said Mr Gilbertson after his family stepped off the Police Westpac Rescue Helicopter about 5.30pm.

Their mother Kamin said Thorendor, last seen beached and on its side, had been a beautiful boat. 'It was meant to be our home,' she said.

by Des Ryan