A French national has been winched to safety from a yacht following a rescue operation off North Cape as the remnants of ex-tropical cyclone Lola hits the region.

A Maritime New Zealand spokesperson said the French yacht, the Juan Sabulan, had been 28 nautical miles off the coast of North Cape.

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The yacht activated the Emergency Position-Indicating Radio Beacon (EPIRB) early on Sunday, the spokesperson said, due to loss of motor and damage to its rigging and sails.

“Weather and sea conditions in the area are poor.”

Three rescue helicopters were dispatched to the yacht, but one was later stood down and Maritime NZ was in liaison with French authorities in Noumea regarding the alerts.

The Northland Emergency Services Trust (NEST) helicopter was able to winch the person off the yacht and they were being taken to Kerikeri to meet with NZ Customs, the Maritime NZ spokesperson said.

NZ Customs would then advise the French Consulate of the rescue of their citizen, the spokesperson said.

MetService is forecasting easterly gusts of up to 130kph in exposed parts of Northland on Sunday, with the risk continuing through to early Monday.

Heavy rain is expected in Northland through Sunday afternoon and overnight, with up to 120mm possible.