Air Apparent, the small yacht abandoned off the north coast of New Zealand last year when the crew allegedly mutinied and set off a distress beacon, has been recovered by fishermen in north Queensland.

The yacht was abandoned during a coastal trip in April last year when inexperienced crewmen grew alarmed in rising seas and set off the beacon in defiance of owner/skipper Bill Heritage. A helicopter was sent from Auckland, and Mr Heritage said he had no option but to abandon the boat with the three crewmen.

His insurer initially declined his claim for a total loss, but a report in insuranceNEWS.com.au in which Club Marine CEO Mark Bradley said his company would have paid led to a reversal of the decision.

Air Apparent drifted slowly across the Tasman Sea, being spotted several times by military air patrols. Last week it was taken in tow by fishermen from Bowen.

Mr Heritage says the boat is “rather the worse for wear. Water has got into the cabin since the hatch was left open.

“It is remarkable that she is still afloat after more than 13 months adrift,” he told insuranceNEWS.com.au.

The insurer is understood to be discussing salvage with the fishermen.