Yachtie winched to safety in Hawke's Bay

A yachtie has been winched to safety after his vessel lost its motor and sails in high seas off Cape Kidnappers. Photo / Glenn Taylor

A yachtie has been winched to safety after his vessel lost its motor and sails in high seas.

The Lowe Corporation Rescue Helicopter was called in by NZ Rescue Coordination Centre to rescue the 63-year-old whose yacht got into trouble in 5m high seas yesterday afternoon.

The yacht was located 50 nautical miles off Cape Kidnappers in Hawke's Bay. The man was winched aboard the rescue helicopter and flown to Hawke's Bay Regional Hospital.

The hospital would not disclose the man's injuries but said he was in a stable condition.

Meanwhile two people are being treated by paramedics after they came out of a rowing skiff on Auckland's Waitemata Harbour this morning.

Emergency services were alerted after the skiff capsized between Northcote and Westhaven marinas at about 8.45am.

Sergeant John Saunders of the Maritime Unit said details were scarce as staff were still at the scene.

However he said it was reported that the skiff capsized after it hit a wave created by a nearby ferry.

"We're not 100 per cent sure what happened. It's blowing fairly hard and raining thought so we're not sure if that was the cause or whether it was just a little bit rough," he said.

"Those skiffs are pretty low to the water, they're not really designed for rough water."

One person was suffering hypothermia, but Mr Saunders understood the pair were not seriously injured. They were taken to the Bayswater marina, where an ambulance was waiting.