Latest news with #Helena
Newsweek
24-05-2025
- Newsweek
Four People, Three Dogs Rescued From Pacific Ocean by Cruise Ship
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. A Carnival Cruise ship carrying more than 3,000 passengers took on a few more after rescuing a group of people stranded on a catamaran in the Pacific Ocean on Thursday, according to a press release from the cruise line. The Splendor was on a round-trip cruise from Sydney to Vanuatu and New Caledonia when it heard about the distress call from the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Nouméa. The Syndey-based ship headed towards the call and picked up the newest passengers, three dogs and two couples. A spokesperson for Carnival Cruises told Newsweek by email Saturday that "the catamaran suffered engine failure and a broken mast during bad weather." Newsweek has reached out the group on the catamaran as well as Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Nouméa via email on Saturday during non-working hours. The Context New Caledonia is an archipelago about halfway between Brisbane, Australia, and Fiji in the South Pacific, nearly 900 miles of ocean between the continent and the collection of islands. It isn't clear exactly where the distressed vessel made the call from, but the Splendor traveled five hours before reaching the crew of the distressed vessel. What To Know The rescued passengers include the creators of the YouTube channel Sailing Barking Cat, the spokesperson told Newsweek. The pair, Dusty and Helena, chronicle their adventures as they move from living in a van in Australia to full-time living on a catamaran with their three dogs, Wiggle, which is a mini husky, and Juno and Potato who are French bulldogs. The four people rescued from the catamaran started sailing May 14 from the Gold Coast of Australia with a destination of Fiji, according to the Carnival Cruise spokesperson. Those rescued included two Australians, one German and one Italian citizen, the spokesperson added. All four passengers and the three pets have been taken in by the Splendor and are receiving medical attention as well as food and water. A Carnival Cruise ship rescued four people and three dogs from a distressed vessel. A Carnival Cruise ship rescued four people and three dogs from a distressed vessel. Provided by Carnival Cruise Line What People Are Saying Sailing Barking Cat posted a clip of a news report about their rescue on their Facebook page and simply wrote on Friday: "We had to be rescued." What Happens Next? Despite the rescue, the Splendor is still scheduled to visit Nouméa on Saturday and return to Sydney by Tuesday, according to the press release from the cruise line. It is currently unclear if the distressed vessel is fit to continue to sail or where it is currently located.
7NEWS
23-05-2025
- 7NEWS
Aussies rescued from catamaran in South Pacific reveal sinking fear in wild weather
Voyagers rescued from their broken-down catamaran in the South Pacific feared they might have to abandon ship before being saved by a 'floating city.' Australian bloggers Dusty and Helena, their three dogs, and another couple with them were plucked from their disabled boat about 5am on Thursday after their engine failed and their mast broke in wild weather. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today 'We were 170 nautical miles off the shore of New Caledonia in the middle of nowhere,' Dusty told Sunrise. 'When the mast broke it was under the boat at a 45 degree angle, banging on the bottom of it. 'We were very worried (the mast spreaders) were going to puncture the side of the boat and then we were going to be trying to jump into the life raft in 4-5m swell. 'Then this floating city came and saved us.' That floating city was the Carnival Splendor, which was on an eight-day round trip to Vanuatu and New Caledonia after leaving Sydney. The couple said they had barely slept for two days as they tried to outrun a storm. But when their engine and mast were taken out of action, a distress call was made and they had a nerve-wracking wait to be rescued. 'We were all wearing wetsuits, ready to deploy the life raft and run away from the boat,' Helena said. The couple said getting onto the cruise ship was a challenge in timing, given the huge swell. 'Our boat was docked up next to the cruise ship and the place we were supposed to enter was like two or three metres above us,' Dusty said. 'We thought, 'ok this isn't going to work', then we noticed when the swell came through it would lift our boat to that height so you had to time it with the swell and then jump into this hole. 'All the crew were jumping and grabbing you. But if you fell in between our boat and the cruise ship it would be an instant death.' The two couples had been heading to Fiji after leaving the Gold Coast earlier this month. Dusty and Helena live full-time on the catamaran, chasing their dream of sailing around the world after travelling Australia in a motorhome. 'With no sailing experience, we're learning as we go — figuring out boat life, fixing things, and navigating the challenges of off-grid living,' they say on their YouTube channel Sailing Barking Cat. The Carnival Splendor continued its voyage and will visit Noumea in New Caledonia on Saturday before returning to Sydney on Tuesday. Carnival Cruise Line said: 'It's always our priority to respond to emergencies like this and we're glad we were in the right place at the right time to help.' Dusty left the EPIRB on the catamaran and is hopeful he can retrieve the vessel and have it towed to Noumea.
Perth Now
22-05-2025
- Perth Now
Cruise ship rescues Aussies stranded at sea
A group of lucky travellers has been rescued by a cruise ship after their boat broke down off the coast of New Caledonia. Aussie bloggers Dusty and Helena, along with their three dogs and another couple, were saved from their disabled catamaran in the South Pacific on Thursday. Crew on board the Carnival Splendour responded to the boat's distress call by the Maritime Rescue Coordination Centre in Noumea. Carnival Cruise's communications director Lynne Scrivens said the group was 'all okay' after being stranded on their catamaran in rough seas just south of New Caledonia. 'Carnival Splendour, it's a Sydney-based cruise ship, it got the call to go and assist and so it immediately diverted and headed towards where the catamaran was and thankfully we were able to get to them and rescue the four people and their three dogs, who are now on Carnival Splendour along with 3300 other guests,' she told 2GB's Mark Levy. The sailors were on their way to Fiji when their engine failed and mast broke in rough seas off the coast of New Caledonia. Supplied Credit: Supplied 'They're all okay, thankfully. They were really lucky that we were able to come to their rescue, and they're receiving food and water, and they're having a rest in a cabin.' Ms Scrivens confirmed the sailors had been cleared by an on-board medical team. 'Quite a story to tell for them,' she added. After completing a lap around Australia, the boat was heading to Fiji before their engine failed and mast broke in bad weather. The cruise ship was travelling on an eight-day round trip to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, leaving Sydney on Monday. Maritime law requires the nearest vessel to respond to distress calls, diverting course to go and assist. It is understood the rescued sailors will get off in Noumea, 9News reported. Carnival Cruises has been contacted for comment.
7NEWS
22-05-2025
- 7NEWS
‘Dream' sailing trip becomes nightmare at sea for four people and three dogs before cruise ships comes to rescue
Four people and three dogs have been rescued from a catamaran stranded in the South Pacific after rough weather disabled the vessel. The group had been sailing south of New Caledonia when their catamaran's engine failed and its mast broke, leaving them adrift at sea at night. Know the news with the 7NEWS app: Download today A distress call was issued about midnight, with the Maritime Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Noumea alerting nearby vessels. Carnival Cruise Line 's Carnival Splendor, which had left Sydney on Monday for an eight-day round trip to Vanuatu and New Caledonia, diverted course to assist. The cruise ship reached the catamaran about 5am on Thursday. Carnival said the four people and their three dogs were brought safely aboard. They underwent medical check on board the cruise ship and were all reported to be in good condition. 'The Carnival Cruise Line ship immediately headed towards the location and was able to reach the vessel five hours later to complete the rescue,' a spokesperson said. 'The two couples and their three dogs were safely welcomed onto Carnival Splendor and are receiving food, water and medical assistance.' The group, which includes two Australians, one German, and one Italian, left the Gold Coast on May 14, heading towards Fiji. They are expected to disembark the cruise liner in Noumea. One couple, Dusty and Helena, are living full-time on the catamaran, along with their three dogs — Wiggle, a mini husky, and two French bulldogs named Juno and Potato. They are 'chasing their dream of sailing around the world', they say on their YouTube channel Sailing Barking Cat. 'We had no sailing experience when we started but we've been learning as we go,' they said. The Carnival Splendor will continue its voyage, with 3,300 guests scheduled to visit Mystery Island on Friday and Noumea on Saturday, before returning to Sydney on Tuesday. 'It's always our priority to respond to emergencies like this and we're glad we were in the right place at the right time to help,' Carnival Cruise Line said.
Scotsman
16-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Scotsman
Willow sculptor shows how she crafts life-size animals out of twigs and steel
Meet the artist who crafts life-size animals out of twigs - and watch how she makes her willow sculptures which have been captivating visitors at a Heritage Trust site. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... A willow sculpture artist has shared some of her secrets of how she creates her life-size animal statues. Watch Helena Mellenchip as she shows some of the work that goes in to making giant creatures out of 'a bunch of twigs'. Watch the willow sculptor in Episode 40 of Unconventional Brits. Airs Friday 16 May at 19:15 on Shots! TV - Freeview channel 262 and Freely channel 565. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Artist Helena weaves a dog sculpture out of willow twigs. | Lucinda Herbert In Episode 40 of Unconventional Brits, watch how Helena soaks the willow so they are soft enough to bend - before weaving the thin twigs into the desired shape. Speaking exclusively to Shots! TV, the sculptor explains: 'Hours and hours pass by, I just get lost in it. When the muscle tone starts to take shape it really spurs me on to keep going.' Watch new episodes of Unconventional Brits every Friday at 19:15 on Shots! TV - Freeview channel 262 and Freely channel 565. Helena Mellenchip, willow sculptor | Lucinda Herbert Helena started the quirky hobby around 15 years ago, when she attended a simple basket weaving class in Cornwall. But other artists on social media inspired her to get more inventive - and recently was commissioned to do an art trail for the grounds at Lytham Hall in Lancashire. In the latest episode of Shots! TV's weekly series, Helena shows video journalist Lucinda Herbert around the garage, where she creates her stunning sculptures. And, the artist has a workstation where she does all the metalwork before building upon the structure with twigs. 'I took a basic welding course. Underneath the willow is a steel structure and some require a lot of metalwork.' Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Artist Helena soaking willow twigs. | Lucinda Herbert From the animated Gromit on a motor scooter, to a life-like lioness and cub, the art trail has been 'mesmerising' people of all ages, since it opened at Lytham Hall on Good Friday. Hall manager, Peter Anthony, says: 'Everyone has been totally mesmerised by them, from youngsters right through to the grandparents. They have gone down a storm and I haven't heard a bad thing said about them.' Artist Helena Mellenchip with her fantastical giant owl, at Lytham Hall | Lucinda Herbert Helena praised Lytham Hall for giving her a huge amount of freedom on the project - which has kept her busy for over 12 months. She adds: 'They weren't specific, so I just wanted to make fantastical things.' There are eight sculptures in total - ranging from life-like animals to a fantasy-inspired giant owl. In the video above, Helena explains that her favourite is a chimpanzee which can be found swinging from the branch of a tree in the hall's grounds. 'Without sounding crazy, I feel like when I look into his eyes we can have a conversation. I've been looking at him now for such a long time, and I miss him. But I'm glad that people can enjoy them now.' While the lioness and cub look almost life-like, the giant boxing hares near the lily pond were done with 'comedy value' in mind - and seemed appropriate as the trail started over the Easter weekend. Mr Anthony, who commissioned the trail, described this as possibly his favourite. 'Not many people are saying this but I love the boxing way they are looking at each other. I think it's great.'
