WHANGAMATA COASTGUARD ACTIVITY FOR FEBRUARY 2021
The month started with Coastguard providing radio operators for the two major fishing contests organised by the Whangamata Ocean Sports Club. A number of WOSC members expressed their appreciation for this assistance.
Several new radio operators have completed their training and are gaining experience by sitting in with senior operators.
February was another busy month, with our unit responding to eight incidents.
On the 4th a 7.5 metre power boat needed to be towed back to the ramp from outside the harbour when it was unable to proceed under its own power.
The 7th February saw a vessel at Mayor Island need a tow to Whangamata with fuel problems. The same boat needed to be towed again that evening when it broke down just outside the Whangamata Harbour.
The next day a yacht which suffered engine failure was towed back to its mooring in the harbour.
On the 17th February Whangamata Coastguard, along with the other units in the area, was put on standby by the Rescue Coordination Centre when a yacht declared an emergency off the east coast of Coromandel. Helicopter and sea searches failed to find the vessel which was located off the coast towards Whangarei. The rescue coordinator from Wellington commented after the incident that boaties should not hesitate to declare a necessary emergency, but if the situation improves to where assistance is no longer needed the emergency can be cancelled.
On the 21st a yacht with mechanical issues was towed to the marina.
Also on the 21st while Whangamata Coastguard was covering for the Tairua/Pauanui unit, a power boat with 4 adults and 4 children suffered engine failure near Slipper Island. The four children and two of the adults were transferred to G J Gardner Rescue and the vessel was towed to Tairua.
The final rescue for the month was a jetski which broke down near Clark Island and was towed back to the ramp.
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