Catamaran washed up on Wellington West Coast

At about 10:50 am on Sunday 17/07/2011 the Maritime Police in Wellington received information of a 30 foot Catamaran located, broken up, on shore in a Bay just north of Ohau Point on Wellington's West coast. The vessel Sea Patroller that Patrols the Cable Protection Zone between the North and South Islands, had located the vessel and reported the find immediately.

Extensive enquiries by Maritime Police were made to find the owner and establish there were any missing persons. At the same time a search by air and sea was started in the immediate area of the wreckage and Maritime Radio broadcasts were instigated on VHF Channel 16 in relation to any sightings of the vessel.

Police enquires established that the vessel was Australian owned it had previously ran aground at Durville Island and was towed to safety and secured on a mooring close by.

The vessel broke free from the mooring recently and again ended up on rocks on Durville. A storm came through the area and before it could be secured the yacht was swept out to sea and not sighted again until today.

The vessels owner was eventually contacted in Australia and confirmed that no persons were on the vessel.

Paul Curd
Police Maritime Unit
Wellington

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