The 16-metre racing yacht Hollywood Boulevard, which finished 9th in the recent Rolex Sydney Hobart 2017 race, sank in Bass Strait after what the crew assume was a collision with a giant moonfish.
The Hollywood Boulevard boat was on her way back to her home Sydney when she struck «large fish» 150km east of Flinders Island and began rapidly gaining water. The crew immediately evacuated to a lifeboat and activated the emergency beacon.
Two rescue helicopters were dispatched to assist the yachtsmen drifting in the icy water and brought the crew to shore.
Paramedic Andrew Allan said it was one of the most challenging rescues he'd ever witnessed: «Strong winds and waves caused the boat and life raft to be tossed around, making our task very difficult.».
Michael Spies, a 40-strong veteran of the legendary Sydney Hobart regatta, was also on board at the time of the collision. He said it was the second encounter with a moonfish for the boat - a similar incident occurred during the 2014 Sydney Hobart race, which caused the boat to lose its rudder.
This harmless animal, which feeds on jellyfish, gives trouble to humans only because of its enormous size, colliding with ships or accidentally getting thrown out on boat decks.
Unfortunately, the crew had to watch as the boat they were fighting to win in December went down. Special services are now trying to salvage the sunken yacht, and perhaps she will still show her worth in the famous Australian regatta later in the year.
