A New Plymouth, New Zealand sailor, Lindsay Wright, was plucked from his sinking yacht on Tuesday, 9 Jan 2007, after the trimaran had been holed by a pod of playful whales.

Shortly after he had been rescued by St Johns Ambulance helicopter rescuer Donna Austin, he watched in disbelief as his yacht, Loose Goose, sank beneath the waves.

Wright, an experienced sailor, said he and a large bull humpback whale had stared, eye to eye, for about 30 seconds before it submerged, and Wright heard a loud cracking noise. He said a pod of about 6 whales had played around the yacht for about 10 minutes. 

Wright had been preparing for the solo Tasman race which starts in April.

www.tvnz.co.nz