Two yachties have been rescued by the navy vessel HMNZS Taupo after a dramatic early-morning emergency near Rangitoto Island.
The inshore patrol vessel was on a training exercise and crew evaluation in the Hauraki Gulf when it picked up a mayday call relayed from Auckland Maritime Radio, reporting a yacht that had run aground on the island’s western side.
Taupo’s commanding officer, Lieutenant Toby Mara, was called to the bridge shortly before 5 a.m. and made the decision to respond.
“Conditions from the west were pretty rough, with winds around 25 to 30 knots. But we were within our limits to put our seaboat in the water,” he said.
A Port of Auckland pilot vessel, already nearby, was first on the scene.
“Just as we were launching our sea boat, the two crewmembers abandoned their vessel into their dinghy. They were taken aboard the pilot vessel and the dinghy taken under tow,” Mara said.
Because the pilot vessel was needed back for commercial shipping duties, the crewmembers and their dinghy were transferred to Taupo’s seaboat.
“There was no moonlight to assist as it was raining and there was full cloud cover. A lot of this was done using the heat signature sensor on our cameras and the seaboat’s spotlight,” he said.
The sailors were dry but shaken after the ordeal.
“Then the North Shore Rescue Coast Guard vessel came on station, and they were happy to take the crew and their dinghy to shore,” Mara said.
He said it was an easy decision to step in.
“We were within our safety limits and everyone was well trained. When someone’s in the water, you go and get them.”
