THE Sunshine Coast’s rescue helicopter was involved in the rescue of a man from a sinking yacht in rough conditions off Moreton Island on Monday night.

The AGL Action Rescue Helicopter and the Volunteer Marine  Rescue (VMR) were contacted and dispatched after a 406MHz emergency beacon was detected by the Australian Search and Rescue Agency (AUSSAR) approximately 10 nautical miles east of Moreton Island.

"The conditions were definitely challenging," rescue crewman Rick Harvey said.

"On our way to the search area, visibility was basically zero, we couldn't see the horizon or the water, and it was only due to the skill and experience of our pilot that we could even get to the area and descend low enough to break through the heavy cloud."

Amongst the swell and rain, Flight Paramedic Mick Kerr located a faint light approximately 500 metres below the aircraft. The rescue helicopter then descended to 180 metres and used a night sun, a 2 million candle power search light, to locate the 26-foot yacht with a distressed man on deck waving his arms frantically.

"The front jib of the yacht was flapping uncontrollably in the wind and the bow was low in the water indicating the vessel was taking on water," Mr Harvey said.

The Rescue Helicopter deployed a flare and directed the VMR vessel to the location of the sinking yacht.

The VMR carefully approached the yacht and managed to successfully transfer the man onto the VMR vessel.

The boat had lost all electrics, had a crack in the hull and was taking on water fast.

"The conditions made this a difficult search and it was the cooperation of a number of highly skilled emergency services working together which probably saved the man's life," AGL Action Rescue Pilot Aaron Regan said.