Solo Sailor Adrift - Refuses to leave yacht
A solo sailor whose yacht Moonstar has suffered severe damage in a storm off the coast of Perth let off a distress beacon, but has refused so far to abandon his yacht which is drifting helplessly . During subsequent bad weather rescuers have lost now contact with the sailor, whose identity has not been established. 
'AMSA aircraft resumes search 80 miles off Perth coastline'
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The 13.5 metre yacht was damaged in Friday night's storm and began taking on water. After the yachtsman, who was not hurt, set off distress beacons an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft from Perth reached him, but he told the crew he would not leave the yacht, even though there was damage to the rigging, rudder and steering, and the motor could not be started
A merchant vessel on its way to his assistance turned away after being told the sailor was refusing to abandon ship.
When the weather then worsened, a Western Australian Fisheries vessel was forced to turn back to shore after they had set off to try to tow the Moonstar.
Contact was then lost with the sailing boat. A search has now resumed, concentrating on an area where the boat was last seen, around 80 miles off the coast off Fremantle
Nick Taylor, of 'Perth Now', reports that this may not be the first time the Moonstar has been found drifting and had to be towed ashore.
He writes: In November 2006, Australian Rocky Donald, 52, was rescued from a yacht called Moonstar after being adrift for three weeks. It is not known if Mr Donald is the sailor on board the stricken vessel at the moment.
He was saved after a yachtsman moored in Patong Bay at Phuket picked up a distress signal.
Moonstar experienced engine failure near Indonesia's Sumatra Islands and was taken to Phuket by the Phuket Marine Police.
Mr Donald had left the Cocos Islands for Phuket, but was forced to drift with only one sail.
His main food supplies ran out but he survived on instant noodles and rainwater.
He was eventually found three nautical miles from Patong and towed to Chalong Pier in Phuket.
by BW Media 
