Mood swing rapid as afternoon fishing trip goes to blazes in gulf

By PATRICK GOWER

Two men leaped to safety from their blazing boat Mood Swing before it exploded into flames and sank during a fishing trip on the Hauraki Gulf.

They were pulled from the water by boaties Chuck and Kathy Rademacher, who had been fishing about 100m away on Monday afternoon.

"I heard a 'swoosh'," said Mr Rademacher, a computer consultant from Albany.

"When I looked over they were jumping into the water and their boat cabin was also burning pretty bad."

The two boats were fishing about 500m south of Tiritiri Matangi island about 3 pm.

Mr Rademacher said they had pulled anchor on their boat Bewitched, which meant they did not have to "cut the warp" - the anchor line - to race towards the Mood Swing crewmen.

The couple sent out a radio message alerting the Auckland Coastguard and requesting firefighting equipment. The naval vessel Hinau, which was patrolling nearby, picked up the distress call and doused the flames by pumping sea water onto them.

Mrs Rademacher took pictures of the blaze, while the police Eagle helicopter flew above the boats, monitoring the rescue.

The crewmen were transferred to a Department of Conservation boat, which tried to tow the Mood Swing to shore at nearby Gulf Harbour.

But the Mood Swing sank within a few minutes, just a few metres off Tiritiri Matangi.

Mr Rademacher said the fire had started as the two men tried to light their onboard stove.

"I'm not sure what they wanted with their stove at that time on a fairly warm day. Perhaps they were going to make a cuppa?"

He said the boat would now be a "FAD" - a "Fish Attracting Device" - about 20m off the southern tip off the island.

"I don't know the names of the two gentlemen but I do remember they were really concerned about losing 13 nice-sized snapper to the fire."