Three sailors who had to abandon their yacht in a dramatic rescue in heavy seas should arrive in Auckland on Wednesday morning, Radio New Zealand reports.
The 11 metre Django was on a return trip from Fiji when its rudder become detached north of North Cape on Tuesday and the yacht was in danger of sinking.
HMNZS Otago answered a mayday call late Tuesday afternoon and the yacht's crew, two men and a woman, took to a life raft.
The Rescue Coordination Centre said as the life raft was being hauled in by HMNZS Otago, the tow rope was cut because of fears the people in the raft would be crushed in heavy seas.
A swimmer from HMNZS Otago had to go into the water to re-tie the liferaft.
The Rescue Coordination Centre said the ship is expected to arrive in Devonport about 9am.
The boat was still floating when skipper Ben Costello, Bex Heilkema and Andrew Cooke abandoned ship but large cracks were appearing.
