Plucky Optimist proves it has a Sting in its sail

By PATRICK GOWER

When Doug Vazey steamed into Kawhia Harbour with the tiny sailboat Sting in tow, he was met by disbelieving children who thought their boat had gone for keeps.

They had given up on the 2.3m Optimist as lost forever when it broke its moorings on Sunday and floated through a tiny gap in the harbour and out into the Tasman Sea.

Mr Vazey was just as surprised when he came across the yellow boat floating untended 8km out to sea while on his way out fishing on Monday.

"I was worried because there was no one aboard," he said. "There was just this little yacht, with everything in it but people."

Sting owner Alan Ormrod and Aucklander Henry Dixon had by then given up searching for the boat. Mr Dixon's children, Melissa, aged 12, and Daniel, 7, the latest in a long line of kids learning to sail in the boat, were devastated that it was lost.

"Then we got told it had been found way out at sea," said Mr Dixon. "It's a solid little boat, but it certainly got a lot further than I ever thought an Optimist would."

Locals were astounded yesterday that Sting, which had its sails furled, made it out across the large bar and into the open sea.