Coffee opportunities?
- 1 February 2026
- Jane Elliot
Skipper Paul reporting
1 February 2026
After a beautiful Saturday with lots of boats out, and no callouts at all, it didn’t take long to realise Sunday would be very different.
The pager went of at around 0830 and crew 2 quickly assembled at the boat and off we went to our first callout. A boat at the seaward side of Kawau Island had mechanical problems. Off past Maori rock and Fairchild reef to a 5.5 m aluminium boat.
They had drifted quite a long way north. We finally caught up with them and hooked them up for a trip back to Sandspit to recover onto their trailer.
On the way out we heard a call to ops about another boat with mechanical problems while on our way with the first boat. Ops checked it was OK and then gave us our second tasking to follow on after the first was complete.
We safely deposited our first customer on the sand next to the boat sheds at Sandspit and then back out for the second job.
This job was for a tow back to Omaha from off Takutu point. The boat was yellow and orange and thankfully stood out in the crowd as there were several boats around.
We caught up to them and quickly arranged a tow back to Omaha and the ramp. On the way we discussed the business opportunity around a mobile coffee cart on the carpark by the slip. On a day like Sunday ( and probably most weekends during the summer) there were plenty of potential customers including a coastguard crew… Entrepreneurs take note.
We caught up to them and quickly arranged a tow back to Omaha and the ramp. On the way we discussed the business opportunity around a mobile coffee cart on the carpark by the slip. On a day like Sunday ( and probably most weekends during the summer) there were plenty of potential customers including a coastguard crew… Entrepreneurs take note.
Back to the Marina and the monthly checks. Home for around 1600hrs. Great work by Dave, Neale, Dan, and Nick. All had a turn at almost everything and Dan’s navigation is getting back up to speed after some extended leave.
But wait! We did get a callout in the evening - to North cove - the pager went off at around 1810. We launched and went out to North cove, however we were stood down just before we got there. It wasn’t very clear why. Ops were also not fully understanding of the customers change of heart.
We came back and overall, from start to finish were back home just after 2000hrs. Thanks to the same crew and also Len who came out as well.
NOTE... it's easy to sign up for a membership.... and well worth it. See what's on offer at https://www.coastguard.nz/boating-essentials/membership