Ready in all weathers

Cyclone Vaianu, made a last-minute swerve and missed most of Northland and Auckland, but still some places got flooded and hit by some extreme winds, especially out towards Great Barrier, Coromandel and the Bay of Plenty. Against this backdrop Kawau rescue crews were hunkered down with everyone else and expected no callouts on the water.

However, as the storm was dying down on Sunday afternoon, we had a callout at around 1715 to check on a boat house on the Mahurangi River. The crew assembled and were launched by 1730. Someone had alerted the Police to a houseboat that was listing and they thought they could hear a horn being sounded from the boat. The job therefore was to see if there was anyone on the houseboat in danger.

The sea was actually calm, and we were helped by being sheltered by the land from the strong SW winds. The sea was a muddy brown from all the mud washed down from the land, and with the sun setting and low-lying cloud, there was a pinkish grey tinge to the light. We certainly looked out for logs and other debris in the water.

Before leaving the Matakana River we were given a second tasking to check on a boat in Ngaio Bay, just North of Scott’s landing, this was on our way to the houseboat.

We made it quickly into the Mahurangi river and reduced speed as we approached all the boats moored at Scott’s landing and Ngaio Bay. Looking for yachts with lights on we managed to find our first customer. He was reporting another boat that he thought was a run about that had capsized but it seemed to have disappeared, and he wasn’t sure where it had gone. We had a quick look round towards the shore, but nothing stood out, so as we also had the houseboat to check out we carried on down to that.

The houseboat was down beyond Grants Island. some of the crew knew where it was. It was quickly seen that the houseboat had no-one on it. We pulled alongside, shone lights into the boat and generally called out. No one on board. The police needed to check there was no one on board once it has been reported, so we had done what was required. The boat was listing but no life in danger so we left it where it was anchored close in towards the shore.

Back up the Mahurangi River and off to Sandspit and home. Thanks to Andrew, Craig, Glen, Luke and Jim ( first callout I think!) Refuelled washed down and home for 2000 ish