Instrument Assisted Grounding

Shortly after leaving Nuiatoputapu, we learned that a 45-foot cruising yacht had gone aground on the reef at night near the entrance to the lagoon. By good fortune, two other yachts were at anchor inside the lagoon and heard the distress call. Also fortunately, the southeast winds that were such a nuisance to us, were a blessing for the grounded yacht as there was almost no swell at all where they hit the reef. The two crews who heard their calls, came out with inflatables to successfully assist the grounded yacht imto; ot was out of danger. From what we saw when this yacht was hauled out a few weeks later in Neiafu, they will need serious repairs including a new rudder and shaft.