Pair rescued near St Helens

A couple of boaters are safe and well after being rescued off the North East coast last night.

Police say around 8pm they received a distress call from a yacht that had lost its mast, with rope tangled in its propeller, just north of the Gardens Reef, near Binalong Bay in the Bay of Fires area.

Marine Rescue personnel took the sailors on board around 10pm.

The vessel was left at anchor and will be retrieved today.

Police thanked the occupants of the vessel who were prepared and remained calm, making sensible decisions to assist their rescue.

All vessel operators are reminded to carry alternate means of communication such as marine radio and EPIRBs.

Police say in addition to safety equipment being required by law, it is important to remember that mobile telephones will not always be in range when you need them most.