Location: Wellington
District: Wellington

Water Rescue

At approximately 3:10 pm on Monday 11th June a 38 foot yacht made a 'Pan Pan' urgency call on Marine VHF radio channel 16.

She was south of Somes Island in the Wellington Harbour and had lines (ropes) from her sails caught around her prop. This meant she was unable to drop her sails and could not use her engine. She also could not deploy her anchor. There were three persons on board. All persons on board were wearing their lifejackets.

There was a 25 knot southerly wind gusting 30 knots. (45-55 kilometres per hour)

Due to the wind gusts she was sailing close to Somes Island.

The coastguard vessel, 'Spirit of Wellington', was being used by Centreport as a Pilot Vessel was in the vacinity and responded to the urgency call.

The Police launch Lady Elizabeth IV was also dispatched from her berth near Waterloo Quay.
The Spirit of Wellington was first to arrive and managed to get a tow line to the troubled vessel. By this time she was dangerously close to Somes Island and her sails were still up.

The Spirit of Wellington towed the yacht across the harbour to shelter from the wind north of Kau Bay. This tow was a difficult tow due to the yacht still sailing and at times tending to overtake the Spirit of Wellington. The crew on board (from Centreport Wellington) did an excellent job with the difficult tow.

Wellington Harbour Radio (Beacon Hill) was advised of the difficult tow and that the Spirit of Wellington was 'Restricted in her ability to manouvere.' They in turn advised all harbour traffic (including the interisland ferries) to keep clear of the tow.

Once in the shelter of Kau Bay the crew on board the troubled yacht managed to drop their sails. The tow was then taken over by the Police Launch who delivered the yacht safely back to Evans Bay Marina.

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