Four sailors are safe and well after a dramatic rescue by the Australian Defence Vessel Reliant, following the loss of steering on their yacht while crossing the South Pacific from New Zealand to Fiji.
The German-flagged yacht Lucky Jonny, a 37-foot Dresport Furia, was approximately 102 nautical miles southeast of Suva when it lost its rudder. The crew issued a MAYDAY, which was picked up early yesterday morning by New Zealand’s Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC NZ), who immediately relayed the alert to RCC Fiji.
Responding swiftly, RCC Fiji coordinated with the Fiji Navy, and support came quickly in the form of the ADV Reliant, which had been en route to a scheduled port call in Suva. Upon hearing the distress call, the Reliant altered course and was tasked with the rescue. Despite testing sea conditions, the crew aboard the Reliant successfully located and retrieved all four people from Lucky Jonny and is currently towing the yacht back to Suva.
The rescue was a joint effort, highlighting the seamless cooperation between RCC New Zealand, RCC Fiji, the Fiji Navy, and the Royal Australian Navy. A key player was the Australian Maritime Surveillance Advisor embedded with the Fiji Navy, who helped coordinate communications and logistics between vessels and shore-based teams.
Built in 1986 in Spain, Lucky Jonny was originally named Antares, she spent decades sailing Mediterranean waters before being purchased in 2021 by German sailors Jonas and Jenny, who gave her a new name and a new life. A nod to the film Master and Commander’s intrepid “Lucky Jack,” and a blend of the owners’ first names, Lucky Jonny was overhauled extensively for long-range offshore passages.
Upgrades included a full suite of ocean-ready equipment, including solar and wind power systems, lithium batteries, a satellite phone and Starlink, EPIRB, survival suits, and an offshore life raft. She had all the right safety gear on board—ultimately helping to ensure her crew’s safe recovery.
The rescue serves as a timely reminder of how quickly things can change at sea—and how essential it is to be prepared, both with gear and contingency plans. In this case, despite the loss of steering, the yacht’s systems and emergency communication channels worked as intended.
The four rescued sailors are in good health and being looked after aboard the Reliant as it heads toward Suva. The damaged Lucky Jonny is being towed by Reliant and expected to arrive in port with her crew in the coming days.
Next: Part 2: Lucky Jonny sparks offshore sailing debate
Loosing a rudder often results in the boat sinking. Would like to know details on how the rudder was lost. Spade Rudders are not the best option for offshore sailing.