Family lose pride and joy to rough seas

Strong winds left the catamaran Ika Roa wrecked on the shores of Matakana Island. Photo / Alan Gibson

A much-loved catamaran lying wrecked on the shore of Matakana Island near Tauranga is due to be salvaged today.

The Ika Roa, which had been moored at Pilot Bay for more than 20 years, broke free from its moorings and washed ashore about 500m northwest of the harbour entrance, where it was broken up by rough surf.

The catamaran is owned by Tony Murray and his son Hamish. Mr Murray's wife, Tracy, said the family had salvaged what they could from the Ika Roa and would visit it today to clear away debris.

The Ika Roa had been in the Murray family for over 20 years and they had sailed it around the Pacific and used it to take students from Te Puke College on annual school camps.

"It is like a death in the family. We are just devastated."

A man was rescued after his boat ran ashore while he was looking at the Ika Roa.

The Matakana Island netball team had just finished practice on Monday evening when they saw him.

Netballer Myra Ngatai said: "We thought we saw a boat down there and then there was this man standing there, looking scared at all of these girls coming towards him.

"He was lucky we were training down there or he would have been there for quite a while."

Harbour master Jennifer Roberts was notified when the Ika Roa was stranded, but said that initially the sea had been too rough to allow an inspection of the catamaran.