Man survives yacht crash off New Zealand
Updated
An American sailor is lucky to be alive after his yacht crashed into an island off New Zealand.
The skipper, Charlie Whipple, was just days into a solo round the world voyage, setting off from Tauranga in the North Island headed for Honolulu.
Our New Zealand correspondent, Kerri Ritchie, says he was fast asleep when his seven-metre yacht was swept onto rocks on Great Barrier island, north of Auckland.
The 66-year-old switched on his emergency beacon and scrambled onto the rocks.
"I heard this bang, bang and I looked out and there is this island right in front of me," he said.
"Two and a half years of work is there on those rocks."
A rescue helicopter winched him to safety.
He says his yacht is beyond repair.
