Felix Fielding was sitting on his friend's balcony in Avoca on Monday evening when a yacht further out to sea caught his eye. Something was not right.

The 19-year-old student and sailing enthusiast had seen the boat the night before, but on Monday it was much closer to shore.

The yacht Harlech moored at Church Point on Tuesday. Credit:Louise Kennerley

"It was unusual that it was sitting in rough water not really going anywhere," Mr Fielding said. "It's not that comfortable out there – you wouldn't sit there by choice."

He did not know it, but on board were Paul James Bennett, 52, and his partner Simone Anne Wright, 38 - two New Zealand fugitives wanted for years in connection with allegations of fraud and sexual assault.