Shortly before 1pm, the volunteer crew of Coastguard Kawau received an urgent callout. A vessel was in difficulty on a mooring in Omaha Cove, Leigh Harbour, with reports suggesting the boat may have been holed and was taking on water, one person still on board.
The conditions that day were already severe. Winds had built to around 50 knots, with gusts recorded beyond 70 knots, and a storm surge was driving a high incoming tide. Getting underway was only the beginning of the challenge. Clearing the Sandspit river mouth and crossing Kawau Bay meant pushing through large, debris-laden seas, with significant floating material slowing progress and demanding constant attention from the crew.
As they made their way toward North Channel, conditions continued to deteriorate. By the time the crew reached the area near Maori Rock, six metre breaking swells were running, the seas steep and unstable, with sustained gale-force winds pressing down on everything.
Five crew were on board, including two highly experienced skippers. Together, they made the call to turn back.
Radio communications had already indicated that reaching the vessel in distress before its occupant was forced to abandon it was unlikely. With conditions still worsening and a forecast suggesting the weather would ease within hours, the skipper of the day determined that continuing was unsafe. It was a hard decision, but not an uncertain one. Volunteer Coastguard skippers bear responsibility not only for those in trouble on the water, but for the safety of every crew member under their command.
Footage captured during the attempt, since shared by Coastguard Kawau, makes plain just how ferocious the conditions were, with breaking seas surging around Maori Rock.
Every crew member returned safely. Skipper Brett extended his thanks to Thelma, Rob, Marcus and Tim for their effort and sound judgement under exceptionally demanding circumstances.
