Drunken sailor all at sea

A Thames man who made a drunken boat trip from the Kaiaua Hotel across the Firth of Thames, losing a passenger overboard on the way, has pleaded guilty to charges stemming from the incident.

"There's nothing I can really say", said Anthony Henry Jones, 52, when he appeared before Judge Neil McLean in Thames District Court on Wednesday.

He was charged under the Maritime Transport Act with operating a vessel causing unnecessary danger or risk to other persons.

On January 28, after drinking three cans of beer, Jones took his friend Peter Makiri, 41, and Carl Daniela, 17, out on the 8m yacht Melissa Dawn, which he had been repairing.

He also took a dozen cans of beer for the jaunt.

On the way across the Firth of Thames, Jones drank three to five cans. When they reached Kaiaua the three went to the hotel.

Staff at the pub would not serve Jones - they said he looked too drunk.

Jones said on Wednesday he had sunstroke and a bad headache.

"I was in a pretty bad way."

Sergeant Peter French said the three left the hotel and went back to the boat where they continued drinking before Jones gave Mr Daniela the helm and told him to "head for the lights of Thames" while he continued drinking with Mr Makiri.

About 10 minutes from Thames the Melissa Dawn ran out of fuel and it was discovered Mr Makiri had fallen overboard.

Jones and Mr Daniela were rescued by a passing fishing boat but told no one about Mr Makiri until they reached the shore and walked to a service station, where they called police about 1am.

"The defendant indicated that they were absolutely drunk," Mr French said.

A search and rescue operation was started for Mr Makiri, who was found alive nine hours later swimming naked in the Firth of Thames.

Jones will appear in the Thames District Court on September 8 for sentencing.

- NZPA

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