When a member of the public spotted what appeared to be a small dinghy taking on water off Scott's Landing on Monday evening, Coastguard units from Cowell, Auckland, and Hibiscus were rapidly mobilised.
Skipper Paul led the Kawau crew, who were on the water within minutes. They were joined by Trillion Alpha from Auckland and Hibiscus II from the Hibiscus Coast. As dusk settled over Mahurangi Harbour, the three vessels worked together in a coordinated response to the reported distress situation.
“It was getting to twilight, and if required, a search would be far more efficient with the three boats,” Skipper Paul said.
When rescuers reached the scene, the picture was less alarming than feared. The 3-metre dinghy had not been sinking at all; engine failure was the actual problem. A passing kayaker had already towed the stricken vessel to shore before the Coastguard units arrived.
Both people aboard had been wearing lifejackets throughout, something the Coastguard noted could have proved important had the situation worsened. Hibiscus II put its amphibious Sealegs capability to good use, with crew members driving directly onto the beach to carry out welfare checks on the two occupants before the vessel returned to join the others offshore.
“It was certainly pleasant to meet up with our neighbouring crews under more social circumstances with our customers safely on shore,” said Paul.
The Kawau team took the opportunity to acknowledge the contributions of volunteers Thelma, Rob, and Mark.
Although this incident concluded without harm, it highlights how quickly things can turn serious on the water. Lodging a trip report regardless of vessel size, carrying out engine checks before launching, and wearing a lifejacket on every outing remain straightforward steps that can make all the difference.
