The Scottish couple were rescued after their boat broke down in big seas. Photo / 123RF
The Scottish couple were rescued after their boat broke down in big seas. Photo / 123RF
A Scottish couple say they are "lucky to be alive" after their boat broke down in big seas, pummelling it towards a reef off the Gisborne coast.
The coastguard and local surf club launched a dramatic operation that has been dubbed one of the "sea rescues of the year" in four-metre waves and poor visibility, saving the couple and their stricken vessel from Christmas tragedy.
The couple had been delivering a 40-foot pleasure boat from Tauranga to Christchurch when they developed engine problems off the East Coast about 3pm yesterday.
They pulled into Whangara Beach, about 35km north of Gisborne, and set an anchor but it snapped because of the rough seas, and they drifted towards a nearby reef.
The couple could not restart the engine and issued a mayday call to the coastguard.
"We didn't have much time to think about being scared, just trying to keep the boat away from the reef," the boat's skipper, who did not want to be named, said.
"It was pretty traumatic, we feel lucky to be alive and just want to give our thanks to the New Zealand Coastguard, the surf club, police and other locals who helped us."
Gisborne-East Coast district surf lifesaving marine squad co-ordinator Justin Martin said it was one of the most challenging rescues he'd been involved in his 25 years on the job.
When they arrived at Whangara Beach they were confronted by 3m waves crashing onto the shore. They managed to navigate their way through the surf in an IRB to reach the stricken vessel, which was being "hammered by swells".
"Their boat could only idle, there was a bit of anxiety setting in for them, and it could have been a lot worse if it had grounded on the rocks," Martin said.
A Scottish couple were rescued in dramatic fashion off Whangara Beach, about 35km north of Gisborne, yesterday when their boat broke down. Image / Google Maps
They evacuated the woman, who had to swim a short distance to the IRB, leaving the male on board to look after the boat while the coastguard travelled north from Gisborne to tow it back to the port.
"As nightfall was approaching there were communication issues with the boat, and not being able to see it from shore was certainly challenging," Martin said.
Sea fog and mist had set in through the afternoon as conditions rapidly deteriorated.
Once the coastguard arrived about 9pm they decided to evacuate the man as well as he was becoming fatigued, before towing the boat to Gisborne port.
Apart from some minor bumps and scrapes, the couple were in good health, Martin said.
"It could have been really nasty, they were lucky to avert anything worse."
Principal rural fire officer Ray Dever said it was "one of the sea rescues of the year".
"The conditions out there were disgusting. It really changed late afternoon, mist and sea fog, and big seas rolling in.
"I'd imagine they would have been trying to beat the bad weather and make it to Gisborne port to ride out the storm, before continuing on to Christchurch. Then their engine broke down."
Dever said the emergency services had done an "amazing job" not only to save the two on board and salvage the boat, but to prevent it from grounding on nearby Te Tapuwae o Rongokako Marine Reserve.
"The boat was carrying 2000 litres of diesel on board. If it had grounded on the marine reserve there could been a huge amount of pollution."
Dever said it was relatively common for old boats that had not been used often to have engine issues.
"As they come around from the Bay of Plenty and hit the rougher weather on the East Coast it stirs up the old diesel in the fuel tank and can suck rubbish all through the filters, causing all sorts of problems."
