Coastguard Mana report that the 31-foot ketch had been anchored offshore since early morning, but by the afternoon, worsening conditions—including 30-knot gusts and increasing swell—had left it broadside to the waves. Concerned locals contacted Coastguard Mana (Coastguard Mana covers the Mana inshore recreational area, North to Otaki, Northern end of Cook Strait, and Top of the Marlborough Sounds, while Pukerua Bay is a small seaside suburb at the southern end of the Kāpiti Coast)) after noticing the yacht’s unusual position.
As the Coastguard team began investigating ownership, a second report came in that the yacht’s rear mast had collapsed. Recognising the urgency, the crew relaunched Te Awarua Rescue and set off towards Pukerua Bay. En route, they intercepted a Maritime Radio transmission calling for assistance for an injured sailor on board. The lone occupant had been struck when the mast crashed onto the deck.
After a punishing 35-minute journey through rough seas, Te Awarua Rescue arrived to find the yacht rolling violently. Assessing the situation, the crew determined that launching a tender was too dangerous. The sailor’s injuries, while not life-threatening, prevented him from safely transferring himself. Instead, the Coastguard team manoeuvred alongside and executed a direct rescue, pulling him aboard in a swift and coordinated effort.
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With conditions too treacherous to attempt a tow, the yacht was left at anchor as Te Awarua Rescue returned to Mana Marina. Paramedics assessed the sailor, who was bruised but otherwise stable—a fortunate outcome considering the mast had punched through the cabin wall and struck him in the back.
However, the situation took a turn for the worse on Monday morning when the yacht broke free from its anchor and was driven onto Pukerua Bay’s rocky shoreline. The owner, still recovering from his injuries, had hoped to move the vessel once conditions eased, but relentless movement over two days likely weakened its hold.
In a further update, Coastguard Mana acknowledged the frustration of not being able to assist further, but as a volunteer rescue organisation, their mandate is strictly to save lives at sea—not to perform vessel salvage. Once the sailor was safely ashore, responsibility for recovery rested with the owner. Maritime health and safety regulations prohibit Coastguard volunteers from engaging in salvage operations, a restriction that prevented them from securing the yacht before conditions worsened.
While the loss of the vessel is an unfortunate end to the ordeal, the rescue itself was a success, highlighting the skill and commitment of Coastguard Mana’s crew in ensuring the sailor’s survival in challenging conditions.
