Update: Monday 29 September – Marathon Marine Rescue NSW mission returns missing sailors safely to shore
Volunteers from Marine Rescue Iluka Yamba, with communications support from Marine Rescue Port Macquarie, have rescued two men missing on an 8.4-metre catamaran and returned them to shore following an eight-and-a-half-hour search and rescue mission.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray said volunteers at the Marine Rescue Port Macquarie radio hub received a call from the missing vessel at around 9pm last night (Sunday 28 September). The men were approximately 22 nautical miles (40km) east of Sandon Shoal.
“Marine Rescue Iluka Yamba was tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to rescue the two sailors.
“A volunteer crew was assembled and rescue vessel Iluka Yamba 30 deployed for the mission.
“AMSA diverted the AMSA Challenger aircraft to the location reported by one of the occupants of the missing catamaran and provided updated positional information to the crew on board Iluka Yamba 30.
“Conditions were challenging offshore, with a 1.5-metre swell and wind chop.
“IY 30 reached the vessel, which was 26 nautical miles (48km) south-east of Yamba, just after 11pm. The crew checked on the welfare of the two men on board and secured a towline before beginning the journey back to Yamba Marina,” he said.
“It was a slow seven-and-a-half-hour trip back to Yamba, with the sailors safely returned to land at 6.30am (Monday 29 September),” Inspector Murray said.
“The two men were extremely fatigued but grateful for the assistance provided.
“The volunteer crew on board Iluka Yamba 30 was also fatigued, but they persevered in challenging conditions, while the communications support provided by radio operators from Marine Rescue Port Macquarie was exceptional.
“Our volunteers, at sea and on land, have had a very long night, but their dedication to the boating community is outstanding. They will all enjoy a rest today,” he said.
Monday 29 September 6:15am – Statement from NSW Police Force
A multi-agency search for two men missing in a catamaran off the North Coast has had a successful resolution after the vessel was found overnight.
Police were told about 8am on Saturday 27 September 2025, Mangrove Jack – an 8.4m white catamaran – left Yamba Harbour, near Yamba Road, Yamba, and was scheduled to arrive at Southport, Queensland, around 5pm.
When the vessel did not arrive at its destination as scheduled, emergency services were contacted about 8.20pm and a search commenced.
Officers attached to Marine Area Command, with the assistance from Tweed-Byron Police District, Police Rescue, PolAir, Marine Rescue NSW, Queensland Police Service, Marine Rescue QLD, Surf Lifesavings NSW, Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service, and Australian Maritime Safety Authority, are involved in the search.
About 9.00pm last night (Sunday 28 September 2025), Marine Rescue at Port Macquarie received a call from the men on the vessel, reporting their location as approximately 22 nautical miles east of Sandon Beach, Sandon.
A challenger search aircraft was diverted and successfully located the vessel.
Volunteers from Marine Rescue NSW have commenced towing the vessel back to Yamba. The boat is expected to make landfall about 7am.
The two men on board the catamaran – aged 50 and 68 – are reported to be uninjured but suffering from extreme exhaustion.
Sunday 28 September 3:20pm – Marine Rescue NSW crews involved in search
Volunteers from three Marine Rescue NSW units, Point Danger, Brunswick and Ballina, have been tasked by NSW Police Marine Area Command to assist in a multi-agency search off the NSW North Coast.
Marine Rescue NSW Inspector John Murray said the search commenced late last night, Saturday 27 September after an 8.4 metre catamaran failed to arrive at its destination as planned.
“The skipper of the catamaran Logged On with Marine Rescue NSW at the commencement of their journey, sharing their planned route and expected time of arrival.
“When the catamaran failed to arrive, Marine Rescue NSW radio operators made numerous attempts to contact the vessel without success.
“Volunteers on board Point Danger 31 commenced searching under the direction of Marine Area Command, before returning to the base shortly before 1am.
“Two additional Marine Rescue NSW vessels, Brunswick 30 and Ballina 30 joined Point Danger 31 in the search early this morning, Sunday 28 September.
“The three vessels are searching a large area off the NSW North Coast from Evans Head to Tweed Heads,” Inspector Murray said.
Marine Rescue NSW is a volunteer based not-for-profit professional organisation dedicated to keeping boaters safe on the water and supporting local communities.
