Yacht escorted safely past dangerous bar

A 16m yacht running out of fuel on a trans-Tasman journey and with a sick crew member on board was today escorted safely past the dangerous Manukau Harbour bar off Auckland.


Coastguard Northern Region spokeswoman Margie Sorensen said one of two skippers on a Coastguard rescue vessel that went out to the bar had transferred on to the yacht.


The yacht was on its way to Onehunga wharf, from where the sick crew member, who had been vomiting for the past three days, would be taken to hospital.


The Coastguard received information last night that the yacht, which had travelled from Brisbane, was running low on fuel.


It was unable to continue on its journey to Auckland via the top of the North Island.


Conditions in the Manukau Harbour this morning were poor, with winds over 20 knots, a strong tidal flow and large swells.


- NZPA