Textbook routine puts crew into safe hands

Five men rescued from their sinking launch in the Hauraki Gulf last night did everything right, their rescuers say.

The five men were crammed into the dinghy carried on their 13m launch when rescuers arrived off Kawau Island.

The launch was lying on its side but shortly before midday yesterday it had defied predictions it would sink.

The launch had drifted several kilometres north and the owners and his insurers were trying to salvage it.

Joe Davis, skipper of the Coastguard North Shore rescue boat, said the launch's skipper had sent out a distress call on his VHF radio and had supplied a satellite position and a land bearing.

The crew also sent up a parachute flare which the Auckland Volunteer Coastguard air patrol saw.

All five men were taken ashore and checked by ambulance staff.

"They were obviously very shaken, but remarkably well under the circumstances," he said.

"The skipper of the vessel handled things very, very well."

The Maritime Safety Authority issued a navigation warning as the semi-submerged launch drifted north towards Little Barrier Island.

- NZPA

Further reading: nzherald.co.nz/marine