Ausmaid rolled, dismasted off Noosa

3:13 AM Fri 3 Apr 2009 GMT

'Happier days - Ausmaid with Ragamuffin in pursuit' .

Three crew have been rescued from yacht which has rolled 360 degrees off the coast of Queensland's Sunshine Coast.

The seas were six metres when Ausmaid, the handicap Sydney to Hobart winner from 1996, lost its mast when it rolled in the wild weather about 10 nautical miles north east of Noosa.

A helicopter has winched the injured skipper, who is believed to have severe back injuries, and two crew members to safety and the yacht was towed to shore.

Noosa Coast Guard commander Robin Hood says it was a good rescue.

'They took the vessel under tow, the helicopter winched the two remaining crewman off and now there is nobody on the yacht.

The vessel was towed Laguna Bay to be safely overnight. A salvage operation was to then take over.

Three people had to be rescued off two-time Sydney to Hobart race winner Ausmaid after it rolled just off Noosa Heads in wild weather yesterday morning.

It is believed that the boat was sailing southwards from Hamilton Island to the Queensland coast when the incident happened.

Dozens of yachts continued to be trapped in their marinas and anchorages, some mid-journey, while the severe seas continued to lash the eastern coast.

by Sail-World Cruising

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Ausmaid rolled, dismasted off Noosa

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