Everything changed “dramatically, drastically and suddenly”.
“I had intended to sail down to Waipiro Bay to shelter from the storm but it arrived about half a day earlier than I expected.
“The winds suddenly got up to about 30 knots (50-60kmh) and the swells were huge — they were insane.
“I was riding five metres up the wave faces, and then plunging down five metres into the troughs between them. It was terrifying.”
Mr Mechelen said it was a humbling and awakening experience.
“I remember thinking at the time that the ocean has no consideration for how you are feeling. The seas were incredibly gnarly.”
He managed to make Whareponga, north of Ruatoria, where he was able to get his anchor down.
“But then at around 2am on Saturday I heard my anchor alarm going off and realised the anchor was dragging.
“I pulled it up and found it was mangled and bent, so I decided to try to push out again into the storm, with the yacht’s engine and some sail up, in an effort to reach Waipiro Bay.
“At that point I decided to put out a distress call.
“I was making very little headway down the Coast and then the genoa sail shredded in the strong winds and I opted to head towards Tuparoa nearer Ruatoria and try to anchor again.
“Fortunately the anchor held.”
Seth said he felt reasonably secure at that location but sea conditions prevented any hope of a tow until after the heavy seas subsided.
“Those two days until the Coastguard arrived were tough.
“There was stuff everywhere inside the yacht as I rode out the swells that were coming into Tuparoa, but I knew I had to wait it out.
“It’s fair to say the interior of Luna was as messy as my mind was.”
He was extremely relieved when the Coastguard crew turned up on Monday morning.
“Those guys get my heartfelt thanks and they deserve recognition for what they did. They’re just incredible guys who came 100 kilometres to help me.”
He and Luna were successfully towed to Eastland Port and arrived at around 4pm on Monday.
“We had no issues with the tow,” Coastguard skipper Adrian Brown said. “It was one of the best we’ve had in terms of the sea conditions. It went like clockwork.”
Adrian said Seth had told them he had been “pretty traumatised” going through the storm.
The Luna is moored in the inner harbour awaiting sail and other repairs.
Members of Gisborne Yacht Club have been down to see the skipper and offer their support.
“I cannot thank everyone who’s been helping me enough,” Seth said.
He has been in contact with Sam’s Upholstery Services.
“Sam’s going to repair my damaged sail and the guys from Coastguard have provided me with a new anchor.
“I’m on the lookout for a replacement VHF radio because mine was damaged in the storm.”
He has been in regular cellphone contact with family in Auckland to let them know he was OK.
“I managed to get them on my phone when I was anchored at Tuparoa, and I was also able to contact the emergency services.”
His family were able to relay further information.
So how does he sum up his ordeal?
“I feel a greater sense of appreciation continuing to be part of life and part of such a loving society.
“I hope that I haven’t used up too many of my nine lives.”
* Seth works in the marine team for the Ports of Auckland and was on his way south to Nelson to finish off his commercial skipper’s ticket. He hopes to leave Gisborne in about a week, depending on the weather.
