Rescue ship races to stranded Kiwi yacht drifting rudderless 555km from Fiji

A veteran New Zealand sailor and three younger crew members have spent nearly a week dealing with severe weather, mechanical failure, and limited power after their 14.6m yacht lost its rudder in the South Pacific, about 400 nautical miles (740km) from Fiji.

The yacht, Cahuna, based in Whangārei, is now drifting about 300 nautical miles (555km) from Fiji as a Tauranga-based medical and relief vessel, the YWAM Koha, diverts from a planned Pacific outreach mission to assist.

The ship is expected to reach Cahuna on Wednesday.

The stricken yacht Cahuna adrift on the Pacific.

Skipper Steve Dawson, 63, departed Riverside Drive Marina on June 11 with a crew and another yacht, Third Wind, as part of a planned Pacific passage.

The two vessels sailed together initially, but conditions began deteriorating around the fourth day near the Minerva Reef region, where a developing weather system forced both yachts to adjust course.

“We realised the weather system was heading down over Minerva,” Third Wind skipper George Oliver said.

“We went out west to go around the edge of it.

“We ended up about 40 miles apart but stayed in close contact with Steve all the way.”

The yacht Cahuna leaving Riverside Drive Marina, Whangārei, on June 11.

During the worsening conditions, Dawson reported steering issues last Tuesday.

Oliver said he advised him to check the stern.

“I said, ‘put your camera over the side and have a look to see whether your rudder’s still there.’ And he did and realised the rudder was gone,” he said.

The loss left Cahuna without primary steering in winds up to 40 knots (70km/h) and swells reaching 5m.

“I felt pretty gutted for him. There wasn’t a lot we could do,” Oliver said.

On board the Cahuna are Dawson, 63, his daughter Shifrah Dawson, 19, experienced sailor Broch Carter, 23, and dive instructor Charlie Harris, 29.

The Cahuna being approached by the Naida so that jerry cans of diesel could be floated across on a line.

Lisa Dawson, the skipper’s wife and a Whangārei medical oncologist, said conditions deteriorated rapidly.

“The first 24 hours it was like they were in a washing machine,” she told SunLive.

“They were basically tossed about. It was pretty scary.

“Steve was taking the boat over to do the islands for five months, and the crew were there to experience crossing the Pacific.”

The crew deployed a sea anchor to stabilise the vessel, but the line later snapped. They then improvised a drogue made from chain and rope to slow the boat while attempting control using sails and limited engine power.

As conditions eased slightly, Dawson began building a makeshift rudder using a spinnaker pole and plywood.

“He’s very calm, is really clever on the boat and kept adapting and responding to each difficulty,” Lisa said.

The Cahuna under sail.

Another setback came when a large wave flooded the yacht, destroying power tools.

“They got slammed by a big wave, which flooded his toolbox and drowned all his power tools,” she said.

Despite this, Steve continued work on the jury-rigged rudder using a vacuum cleaner battery as a power source.

“Everything that goes wrong, he finds a solution. He’s very adaptable,” Lisa Dawson said.

“People call Steve the Bear Grylls of the sea.”

The crew also received assistance from the Canadian yacht Naida, which transferred diesel fuel across a line. However, a line became entangled in Cahuna’s propeller, leaving the yacht unable to use its engine.

“It’s just been one thing after another,” Lisa said.

The jerry cans supplied by Naida.

Oliver said turning back to assist was not possible.

“You’ve got the trade winds, and turning around would have endangered our boat and crew.”

He added that about 300 yachts sailing this week from New Zealand to Fiji, as part of the Pacific Rally group, were also unable to help due to conditions.

“There’s nothing you can do.”

The Cahuna crew has maintained contact via Starlink satellite communications, though power is limited.

“They’ve got good connectivity with Starlink but it’s a power hog, and they turn it off to save power,” Lisa said.

Despite the setbacks, Lisa said the four crew members have remained remarkably positive.

“They’ve really been resilient, and they’ve stayed positive.”

Shifrah Dawson sleeping on the saloon floor of the yacht Cahuna.

She credited her husband’s calm leadership and decades of sailing experience for helping keep morale high throughout the ordeal.

Steve, a retired police officer, has completed the Fiji passage several times before and previously worked skippering charter flotillas through the Greek Islands.

It was there that he met his future wife, English-born Lisa, in the early 1990s.

Lisa spent 17 years working at Tauranga Hospital before moving north to help establish the cancer centre at Whangārei Hospital.

While continuing her work this week, she is also keeping a close eye on weather forecasts and satellite updates.

The YWAM Koha departed from Tauranga for Fiji on Saturday and is expected to reach the Cahuna on Wednesday.

Although the yacht is not considered in immediate danger and no mayday has been issued, maritime authorities have been notified.

Lisa Dawson said towing was considered but estimated at about $180,000.

Instead, help is now on the way. The YWAM Koha is expected to reach Cahuna midweek, bringing relief after days of uncertainty.

“I think everybody just felt real relief when we heard the YWAM Koha is coming,” Lisa said.