Woman swims ashore but man, 72, dies after sailing boat capsizes at Boat Harbour

Water Police have towed the sailing boat, which capsized off Boat Harbour on Monday, into Port Hacking. 

UPDATE

A rope wrapped around the propeller may be a clue to why a sailing boat capsized off Boat Harbour, Kurnell, leading to the death of a man, 72.

The fouled propeller became apparent when the stricken vessel was fully exposed on the beach at low tide.

“There is a line wrapped around its propeller, possibly the anchor line as it runs up to the bow,” said an observer who sent a photo to the Leader.

“A fouled propeller may have disabled the vessel’s engine.”

Police did not reject the suggestion.

A police spokeswoman said in response, “Specialised marine investigators from the Marine Area Command are making extensive inquiries in relation to the cause of the incident and will prepare a brief of evidence for the Coroner.“

The victim of the tragedy on Monday was Terry Annesley, who was heading home to Queensland after purchasing the vessel on the NSW South Coast.

Mr Annesley had collected the boat from Greenwell Point early Sunday morning with his 24-year-old female companion and “was heading straight home” to Bundaberg, he told retired fisherman Graham Bates, who runs the Greenwell Point Yachts Facebook page.

When the 8.7 metre yacht capsized shortly after setting off on Monday morning, police said Annesley's female companion swam to shore at about 5am and raised the alarm with emergency services.

The NSW Ambulance helicopter and NSW Water Police began searching the area, but it was too late.

Marine Rescue NSW was also called to assist, but the boat crew from Marine Rescue Botany Port Hacking was stood down shortly after. They were no longer required.

At 5.48am, Mr Annesley's body was found near Wanda Beach, about four kilometres from where the woman swam to shore.

The rescue helicopter winched the man to shore, but he could not be revived.

"He was a healthy, wiry little bloke," Mr Bates told Fairfax Media. "As far as I could tell from what he was telling me he was an experienced sailor.

"It certainly wasn’t his first boat."

The woman was treated at the scene by paramedics and was taken to Sutherland Hospital where she remains under observation.

Officers from the Sutherland Police Area Command and the Marine Area Command have launched an inquiry. Police on Monday were working to secure the yacht which was washed up on the beach, and a crime scene was established.

It is not known whether the woman or Mr Annesley had been wearing lifejackets. The nature of their relationship, and their abilities as sailors, are also unknown.

Mr Bates said he was stunned to learn the fate of Terry and his boat.

"I was surprised. Disappointed. I was surprised he left with the forecast like it was," he said.

Weather conditions on the water off Sydney’s coast were rough on Monday morning, which made the rescue effort tough, Acting Inspector Mel Thompson said.

"The vessel is still onshore and will be recovered in time," she said.

"Inquiries will continue in relation to what has actually occurred; however the seas were quite hazardous as you can see from the footage, which obviously made it difficult for rescuers."

EARLIER

Investigations continue into the death of a man after a boat capsized off Boat Harbour, near Kurnell, earlier today.

Emergency services were alerted after a 24-year-old woman swam to shore from an 8.7m capsized sailing boat about 5am.

A search involving the NSW Ambulance helicopter and NSW Water Police was then launched.

At 5.48am the body of a 72-year-old man was sighted near Wanda Beach.

The man was winched to shore by NSW Ambulance helicopter but couldn’t be revived.

The woman was not injured.

It’s understood the pair were sailing the vessel back to Queensland.

An inquiry is now underway by officers from Marine Area Command.

A marine wind warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology at 4.10am for the Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast and Illawarra Coast areas, with southerly winds reaching up to 45 kilometres an hour early in the morning.

Waves were forecast to reach between 1.5 and 2.5 metres, with swells of up to two metres offshore.

EARLIER

A man has died after a sailing boat capsized at Boat Harbour early today.

Emergency services were alerted after a woman swam to shore from the capsized vessel about 5am on Monday.

A search began involving the NSW Ambulance helicopter and NSW Water Police, and at 5.48am the body of a man was sighted near Wanda Beach.

The man was winched to shore by NSW Ambulance helicopter but couldn’t be revived.

The woman, 24, has been treated at the scene by NSW Ambulance paramedics and is now in Sutherland Hospital under observation. She is in a stable condition.

An inquiry is underway by officers from Sutherland Police Area Command and Marine Area Command.

Police said it was unknown if either of those on board were wearing lifejackets.

There are suggestions the boat had been travelling north to Brisbane and may have been looking for calmer waters as conditions worsened.

Weather conditions on the water off Sydney’s coast were rough on Monday morning.

A marine wind warning was issued by the Bureau of Meteorology at 4.10am for the Hunter Coast, Sydney Coast and Illawarra Coast areas, with southerly winds reaching up to 45 kilometres an hour early in the morning.

Waves were forecast to reach between 1.5 and 2.5 metres, with swells of up to two metres offshore.

However the bureau warned wind gusts could be 40 per cent stronger than the average speed forecast, and maximum waves could be twice the height. Gusts of almost 60 km/h were recorded at Kurnell at 4am.