An abandoned skiff is recovered from Lake Wakatipu yesterday. Photo / Paul Taylor
A group rescued from Lake Wakatipu near Queenstown yesterday have been described as "half-wits".
Four people got into difficulty because of bad weather and wind. Three capsized from their plastic yellow skiffs. One was not wearing a life-jacket.
Wayne Perkins, co-owner of Million Dollar Cruise, put out the "all stations" call and saw the man pulled from the water.
He said such rescues were frustrating and unnecessary.
"The forecast was gale-force westerlies and guess what we got? Gale-force westerlies.
"The Earnslaw couldn't even sail at 12 o'clock because the wind was so extreme. Two or three of the commercial boats were damaged in Queenstown Bay.
"And you had four people who couldn't be bothered to go on their phones to check what the weather forecast was."
He said the three men and one woman had set out on plastic skiffs, not kayaks or canoes.
"It's just so utterly frustrating that we have so many half-wits on the water.
"It just beggars belief that they went out when it was blowing. You are dealing with people who are not the brightest bulbs on the Christmas tree," Perkins said.
He was cruising along the Frankton Arm when he spotted them and offered assistance.
Despite being in the water they were reluctant to come on board and didn't want to abandon their vessels.
Two commercial boats joined the rescue, including the Hydro Attack patrol boat whose skipper pulled the man out.
Perkins said the man not wearing a life-jacket was in "quite a bad way" before being "physically dragged over the side" of the rescue vessel.
"It is one of those things you just shake your head. It is just utterly frustrating."
Hydro Attack co-owner David Lynott said his skipper might have saved a life.
"He did a great job. Part of our training is to keep an eye out for kayakers and other water-users. We are the professionals and have a duty of care to our passengers and anyone using the water."
Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black did not mince his words when talking about the four. He blamed stupity. Although he was not involved in the rescue, it has been reported to police as a matter of procedure.
"Life-jackets need to be worn and use common sense. Don't go out in bad weather. It was nothing too serious, thankfully, and they got to the shore unhurt. [It is] just people being idiots, just stupid.
"You need to check weather conditions, you need to wear a life-jacket. In certain weather, just don't go out."
The said the group were given a telling-off by deputy harbourmaster Dave Black and hoped they went home with their "tails between their legs".
The foursome, Sean, Nathan, Daniel and Sarah, were reluctant to talk to the Otago Daily Times and would not give their last names. They confirmed they live in Queenstown and are from the UK: three from Scotland and one from England.
Nathan, who was not wearing a life-jacket, and Sean were picked up by rescue boats and dropped off on the Kelvin Heights side of the lake. Daniel and Sarah returned to the same point.
Sean said he was tipped out by a wave when he looked round to check on the others.
"I tried to get back in a couple of times. It's much harder in deep water and the temperature zaps your energy. They [the rescue boats] were just passing, which was lucky. I tried [to get back in] a few times.
"We'd like to say thanks to them. We'll take them in a box of beers. I'd tell others to be careful, don't underestimate it, and wear life-jackets. It looks fine from here but it's pretty choppy and cold."
Sarah had been worried not all of the group were going to make it.
Black also received a call from a concerned father in Sweden whose son had taken a boat to Pigeon Island and then phoned his father to say he was worried about weather conditions. Black was able to confirm his safety and advised the father that his son had made it to shore safely by himself.
For anyone who does not want to take a dip in Lake Wakatipu, his advice is simple: if you are unsure, don't go and if you do, always wear a life-jacket.
Earlier this month a 19-year-old man died in Lake Dunstan near Cromwell after a 6-year-old girl, her mother and the man got into difficulties swimming in the Bannockburn inlet, in the Kawarau arm of the lake. The girl and her mother were rescued but the man drowned.
Motorists are advised to take care around the area.