Gas explosion sinks trio's sailing plans

By TONY GEE

A fiery gas explosion on a catamaran at the Opua marina in the Bay of Islands during the weekend has put an end to a yachting trio's planned ocean voyage.

The 13m Sea Level suddenly exploded, burned and turned upside down on its swing mooring about 200m offshore on Saturday.

It is believed the explosion occurred when a gas cooker was turned on to make cups of coffee.

"We heard an almighty boom like something had hit the building," said marina office staff member Karen Holford.

She and colleague Marilyn Atkinson then saw a large puff of smoke on the water, realised something was wrong, and contacted emergency services.

The two women grabbed blankets and poured water onto the catamaran's American skipper, who was brought ashore with burns to his face and hands.

Opua Customs officer Allen Jones, who had been clearing an overseas yacht, immediately raced to the Sea Level, picking up all three crew members in the Customs boat as vessels came to help from all directions.

Mr Jones said the skipper's wife, a Fijian, was in shock while the third crew member, a New Zealand man, was uninjured.

The skipper was taken to Whangarei Hospital for treatment as locals helped to retrieve floating items and gear from the Sea Level.

A gas cylinder was seen burning in the sea as the catamaran sank.

"They lost all their gear. They only had what they had on in the water," Mr Jones said.

"There wasn't a lot the fire brigade could do. The fire in the hull was extinguished by the water."

He believed the skipper's life was probably saved by the fact that the vessel was lightly built and offered little resistance to the blast.

Mr Jones said the catamaran must be salvaged to remove fuel in its tanks.

It is understood the Sea Level was to have sailed from Opua on Saturday for the Pacific Islands.

The Fire Service and Kawakawa police are investigating the blast.