After Lucky Jonny lost its rudder mid-way between New Zealand and Fiji, a textbook multinational rescue effort coordinated by RCC New Zealand, RCC Fiji, and the Australian Defence Vessel Reliant brought the crew safely to shore. But once the immediate drama faded, the armchair analysis began.
Boating New Zealand’s Facebook post about the rescue drew hundreds of comments, with opinion divided sharply between criticism and compassion. Unfortunately, we didn’t have enough detail at the time to satisfy those wanting to reach a definitive conclusion. We hope to speak with the crew in the coming days to fill in the gaps.
Many commenters put themselves in the crew’s shoes, speculating whether Lucky Jonny had sufficient emergency steering options. Suggestions ranged from drogues and buckets to backup rudders such as a Hydrovane. Some, like Guy Depoorter, argued that such systems should be “standard in offshore sailing,” while others noted that even the best-prepared yachts can struggle in real-world sea states.
Viki Moore of Island Cruising NZ, who knows the crew, was quick to defend their response. “I thought they did a really good job under difficult circumstances,” she said. At the time, conditions were challenging—30 knots on the beam and seas over three metres. “Trying to come up with any kind of emergency steering in that sea and wind state would be next to impossible.”
According to Moore, the crew attempted a jury-rigged rudder using a panel lashed to a pole, but the swell rendered it ineffective. Despite that, they were well-prepared: they had a registered EPIRB, survival suits, and functioning comms, including a satellite phone and Starlink. These allowed them to remain in contact with RCC Fiji and coordinate the rescue effectively.
Importantly, Lucky Jonny was not New Zealand-registered, so it hadn’t undergone Maritime NZ’s IVC (International Voyage Certificate) safety inspection. Moore strongly encourages any boat departing from New Zealand to go through the IVC process, as it helps identify potential issues before heading offshore. “I’m a big fan of the Maritime NZ IVC. If they’d had that, perhaps a backup steering system would have been required,” she said.
Despite the online debate, most commenters agreed on one point: the rescue was a success. One summed it up neatly—“All safe and well—that’s what matters.” The crew is now at Royal Suva Yacht Club, working out their next steps.
The incident serves as a timely reminder of the unpredictable nature of bluewater sailing. It’s easy to critique from dry land, but emergencies at sea don’t follow scripts. As Moore puts it, “Shit happens at sea—it’s how you deal with the aftermath that counts.”
Previous: Part 1 – Breaking news: Four rescued by Australian Navy after yacht loses rudder on way to Fiji
Next: Part 3 – What happens when the rudder fails?
