New Zealand yacht Air Apparent, which was lost off the country’s north coast in March after its crew mutinied and set off a rescue beacon, has been sighted by a French patrol aircraft halfway between NZ and New Caledonia.

Skipper Bill Heritage, who was forced to abandon the yacht when a rescue helicopter arrived, initially had his claim for the yacht’s total loss denied. He told insuranceNEWS.com.au the French patrol aircraft instructed some nearby Taiwanese fishermen to board the boat.

“The reports suggest she is in very much the same condition as the last time she was seen in May,” he said.