Two men were rescued by a cargo ship Monday after their yacht capsized in stormy seas about 230 kilometres west of the Pacific island Niue, the Rescue Coordination Centre New Zealand (RCCNZ) reported.
A Royal New Zealand Air Force maritime surveillance plane found the 17-metre United States catamaran Anna Sunday night after the RCCNZ detected an emergency locator beacon from the boat, dpa reported.
The P3 Orion plane reported that the American skipper and his New Zealand crewman were safe, one still on board the catamaran, and one in an inflatable dinghy attached to it.
The aircraft maintained a vigil over the men overnight while a cargo ship, the Forum Pacific, which was about 148 kilometres away, was diverted to the area.
RCCNZ mission controller Mike Roberts said the cargo ship found the catamaran early Monday and the two men were taken aboard and were en route to Niue, a tiny coral island 2,400 kilometres north-east of New Zealand.
A navigation warning has been broadcast to other vessels advising the location of the capsized catamaran which was abandoned.