28 December, 2014. 12:51
ERROL PARKER | Editor-at-large | Contact
BOXER DANNY GREEN has allegedly been charged with “an act of piracy” after trying to lead a mutiny against Perpetual Loyal skipper Anthony Bell.
The 100-foot supermaxi was reported to have withdrawn from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race yesterday after taking on water near Eden on the far south coast of NSW.
However, it’s become apparent that the shock retirement of the line honor hopeful was because Danny Green attempted to take control of the vessel.
Commentators have already began to speculate what Green was hoping to do if he indeed did take the helm – with some suggesting that he planned on starting his own “fragile paradise” on the windswept and uninhabited Hogan Island in Bass Strait.
One major news outlet is reporting that skipper Anthony Bell was to be castaway with his loyal crew in the emergency life raft and left to fend for them selves in the open ocean.
The crew, which includes surfer Sally Fitzgibbon and former Wallaby Phil Waugh, were said to be in shock after Green “punched out” the skipper and took the wheel.
His plan was foiled after emergency services were notified via EPIRB – a sophisticated satellite beacon that relays emergency distress calls.
In the early hours of this morning, control of the response operation was handed over to the Tactical Assault Group East (TAG-E) – a secretive ADF unit that draws members from the Special Air Service Regiment, the 2nd Commando Regiment and RAN Clearance Diving Teams.
The Daily Mail Australia reported that a local resident saw black helicopters depart HMAS Cerberus, near Jervis Bay, at around 3:30AM EDST.
In the same article, a journalist from The Mail reported that Green began throwing tinned food rations at the approaching special forces inflatable boats – striking one solider in the head with a can of creamed corn.
However, that suggestion was quickly quashed by a defense official.
“We aren’t able to comment on the creamed corn incident, other than it did not happen.” said the official.
The crack special forces unit seized control of the vessel just before dawn and rescued the crew before placing Green under arrest.
The Rose Bay-based racing yacht is now returning to Sydney under tow after being declared a crime scene and sealed.
Both the NSW Water Police and the ADF are refusing to comment on the cloak-and-dagger operation but say it will be subject to an internal inquiry.
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