The 1994 Queens Birthday 'Weather Bomb'...

Rolled 360 degrees and dismasted eighteen hours earlier, Sofia is seen here wallowing in twelve metre seas and the aftermath of 90 knot winds on the Sunday afternoon of Queens Birthday Weekend 1994. She had been sailing to Tonga as the first leg of a round the world adventure. This photo was taken by the crew of the RNZAF Hercules who with Search and Rescue in Wellington, Maureen and John at Kerikeri Marine Radio, co-ordinated the massive rescue. Seven yachts were lost from a regatta sailing to Tonga. Twenty one people were rescued and three people died. Many dreams were dashed. The search area was over 72,000 square miles and lasted for five days...
Uschi and I were taken off Sofia at 10.30 on the Monday night in atrocious conditions by the brave crewmen of the French Navy vessel, The Jacques Cartier, who had sailed 400 miles to rendevous with the stricken yacht, a support ship on standby and the RNZAF Hercules.
Much red tape was cut and Captain Saint Martin delivered us safely back to Auckland in grand style.
Thankyou.
What an amazing experience we all had...