A 60-foot Maritimo motor yacht went down in South Bay off Slipper Island yesterday, sinking in around four metres of water while under tow to Whangārei.
The Waikato Regional Harbourmaster's office confirmed the vessel took on water through open engine hatches during the tow. The yacht had previously been salvaged and was carrying neither oil nor hazardous materials at the time, keeping the environmental risk low.
Slipper Island sits just off the eastern Coromandel coast, roughly three kilometres southeast of Tairua and Pauanui. The privately owned island is a popular boating and fishing destination, with sheltered anchorages such as Home Bay attracting visiting yachts and launches throughout the year.
The wreck has been anchored to the seabed to prevent movement, with salvage operations expected to follow. Boaties and fishers in the area are advised to exercise caution around South Bay while work is underway.
