Fiji Navy reaches Kiwis aboard stricken yacht

The Orion flight path to the stricken yacht. Photo/Supplied

The Fiji Navy is going ashore on a remote Pacific island to pick up four Kiwi men, stranded after their yacht ran aground on a reef.

The Navy's patrol boat reached the men just after 10am, according to Maritime New Zealand.

RCCNZ update 2: Fiji Navy has just now advised it's patrol boat has reached the crew of NZ yacht Jungle. Going ashore to meet crew.

— Maritime New Zealand (Nō te rere moana Aotearoa) (@MaritimeNZ) June 23, 2017

At midday yesterday, an Air Force Orion spotted the yacht, named Jungle, beached on the reef at Tuvana-I-Ra atoll, about 425km southeast of Suva.

The men made it to shore, where three people live, and are safe and well.

Rescue Coordination Centre spokesman Keith Allen said the crew did the right thing by taking their handheld radio with them, which meant they could communicate directly with the Orion.

Earlier today, Maritime New Zealand said the Fiji Navy would rescue the men at first light this morning.

The yacht is owned by Peter McLean who was on board with his son, along with Havana Coffee Works founder Geoff Marsland.

Fairfax reported that the fourth crew member was co-owner of Wellington's Fidel's Cafe, Roger Young.

Roger Foley, who knows both Marsland and McLean and has crewed on the yacht, said yesterday that he was glad to hear the men were safe.

"It's great that the crew is okay, but very sad that Jungle is damaged."

He said McLean was a "very experienced" sailor.

The 20m-long boat left Picton a week ago, heading for Tonga.

They decided to go to Fiji last night because of an equipment failure, then activated a distress beacon at 4am on Friday, after going aground on the reef.