PETER Cook was battling high winds and rough sea conditions in a bid to keep himself and his yacht safe, but he was too busy to be worried.
Mr Cook was rescued off the coast of Esperance about 10.30am on Monday after getting into trouble at sea while travelling to Port Adelaide. The Lesmurdie man left from Fremantle on March 15, with his first port of call at Esperance on Monday, April 27.
He had been cruising through the islands and around the bays off the coast of Esperance before sailing to Middle Island on Saturday seeking shelter to avoid an oncoming storm.
However, his anchor dragged and his yacht Vector had been moving for up to four hours, before his motor gave out and a damaged rudder kept him out of action.
"I was fine until 2am [on Monday] when bullets of 40-50knots started coming through," Mr Cook said.
"I went to Middle Island to hide from the storm and that's where I came undone," Mr Cook said.
"The storm came in a lot stronger than I thought.
"From then on I simply drifted until I came up on a rock north of Miles Island."
Mr Cook said that was where he "banged up on the rock there".
He said he had no time to be worried because he was too busy trying to fix what he could on his boat.
Mr Cook activated his EPIRB for help about 7.30am on Monday and by 10.30am, he had been rescued by a helicopter and on his way back to land. He was found to be in good health.
"The kind gentleman in the helicopter and the ambulance did the rest and for that I'm very grateful."
WATCH: Footage of the yachtsman arriving in Esperance.
Various agencies were involved in the rescue including WA Police, SES, Volunteer Marine Rescue, Department of Transport, Department of Fisheries. Southern Ports Authority used their vessels to help and Goodwin Helicopters provided air support.
His yacht remains on the rocks off Miles Island.
Goodwin McCarthy Helicopter pilot Brian Goodwin transported Mr Cook back to safety, landing at Ports Beach about 11am in high winds, heavy rain and hail.
Mr Cook was rushed to a waiting ambulance where he was treated for a short time, before he left in a vehicle with his sister. The first thing he did when he arrived at her Esperance home was call his daughter and brother and take a warm shower.
Mr Cook said he planned to enjoy a glass of brandy on Monday night.
