THE owner of the yacht washed up on rocks at Lake Gillear had a lucky escape while trying to rescue his pride and joy.
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Lyndon Joiner and a group of mates, aided by a 90 tonne squid boat, were attempting to remove the Patricia Mary when he was dunked by a wave.
"A wave hit me and knocked me unconscious," Mr Joiner said.
He broke a rib but knows he is lucky to be alive.
Despite the scare, Mr Joiner said he has not giving up on trying to retrieve the yacht, which he planned to set up as a charter boat.
He said the yacht had been lashed by waves and moved position, damaging it.
"The swell that just went through has picked it up and turned it over."
"It's wearing down, like myself, there's no doubt about that," Mr Joiner said.
He said the yacht's engines were now submerged under water, which would significantly increase the damage bill.
Mr Joiner and his mates have been joined by a number of vessels and have spent about 10 hours in total on two occasions trying to move the yacht.
He said it was devastating to watch his pride and joy get lashed by the ocean.
"It's too good to leave, I really don't want to let it go," Mr Joiner said.
However, weather conditions were making it increasingly difficult.
"It's getting harder," he said.
"There's still a fairly big swell there now."
He said he was incredibly grateful to his mates who had helped him in his attempts to salvage the yacht.
"They've been great," he said.
Mr Joiner said the yacht was sitting in a precarious position and he always made sure he had someone with him when he went to the site.
He said the physical, emotional and financial strain of the rescue mission was taking its toll on him.
Mr Joiner has spent 7000 hours working to restore the vessel, which disappeared out the back of the Warrnambool breakwater at 7.50pm on Monday, March 25.
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