Category: World / October 17, 2012 10:44 AM EDT
A solo yachtsman on board an 11 meter “Streaker” which had a damaged mast and was low on fuel was found by an Air Canada Boeing 777 on Wednesday. The Australian Maritime and Safety Authority began searching for the yacht on Tuesday morning after an emergency beacon was activated.
Captain Andrew Robertson said he called on passengers to help look for the vessel and missing man:
"As we approached the area I made a PA announcement to the passengers, you know, please help us look for, if you see anything because it's very difficult to find anything down, 5000 feet (0.94 miles), about a mile above the water. Almost immediately, as we closed in on the area, the first officer said well, I see what I think is the boat, so we proceeded right over it, it was almost exactly where they told us it would be"
A second pass of the area confirmed that the 44 year old yachtsman was seen on deck. Australian Police picked up the man:
"He is in really good condition on board, he's not ill; he's not injured in any way that I believe. Last I spoke to him, or spoke to the crew, about lunchtime; he was having a sleep,"









