Family friends Peter Steele and Matt Manson set sail on Tuesday before swells measuring between 8m to 10m caused their 33-foot yacht to veer 100 miles off course.

The sail tore, before the auto pilot and navigation equipment went bust in the wild conditions.

The boat also ran out of fuel after the reserve load was used, rendering the engine useless.

Despite one mobile phone going overboard and another being flooded, the pair was able to make contact through an iPad before making radio contact with Eden Marine Rescue at 8.20am on Sunday.

Eden Water Police set off to rescue the boat about 10.30am before it near Cape Howe, 23 miles from Eden.

The yacht arrived at Eden Wharf at 3.30pm.

Mr Steele said he and Mr Manson heard five mayday calls over the radio during their ordeal, resulting in the three helicopter rescues and two pick ups.

“Matt’s never sailed before, so he did very well,” Mr Steele said.

Despite Mr Manson’s less than ideal maiden voyage, he said it did not compare to what he had encountered in the army.

Mr Steele has also sailed in a cyclone off Vanuatu, but the ordeal was nonetheless exhausting.

The pair slumped themselves on the wharf once the vessel was secure, with a warm meal and a shower not far from the sailors’ minds.

Once the boat is repaired, Mr Mason aims to sail it to the Gold Coast before his ultimate goal of circumnavigating the globe in a solo voyage later this year.