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This time Coastal Patrol members rescued two Canberra men and their yacht on Tuesday night after the vessel was caught in gale force winds.

The yacht, Amelion, was caught in high seas, 15 nautical miles off the Tollgates, east of Batemans Bay.

Batemans Bay Coastal Patrol spokesman Dave Greenshields said Batemans Bay was still without the “heavy” rescue capability of a category three vessel, so the task once again fell on the Ulladulla Coastal Patrol, which has a vessel capable of completing the task.

The Batemans Bay base’s Noosa Cat, call-sign “BAY-CAT”, can legally travel a maximum distance of seven nautical miles out to sea.

Mr Greenshields said the Batemans Bay base received an emergency call at about 11pm on Tuesday after the two-man crew had difficulty controlling the vessel in the huge seas.

“With the onset of sea-sickness by one member of the crew, the skipper found it almost impossible to control the vessel,” he said.

“At this time the skipper cut the sail and stowed it on the deck to avoid the sail contacting the keel or rudder causing even more problems.

“Now single-handed and starting to feel the effects of the stressful situation, the skipper decided it was time to call for assistance; that’s when he sent a distress call by radio to the Coastal Patrol base at Batemans Bay.”

The Encounter from Ulladulla left just after midnight and took the vessel in tow at 4.15am on Wednesday.

At this time, the crew of the Batemans Bay Noosa Cat left port to rendezvous with Encounter and Amelion seven nautical miles off the Tollgates at 5.30am and took charge of the situation.

At 6.30am a two-man crew from the Batemans Bay BAY CAT were put on board the Amelion to help get the yacht into safe waters.

“Once on board a Coastal Patrol member noticed water leaking into the hull from a faulty seal; by this time the water inside was almost up to the underside of the deck,” Mr Greenshields said.

“With the situation desperate and a dangerous bar to cross, it was full speed ahead to get to the marina before the boat sank.”