Storms bring maritime chaos

By ANNE BESTON

Five people were lucky to escape with their lives after an outrigger canoe was swamped as stormy weather caused a weekend of chaos at sea.

A maritime safety warning was issued to all vessels travelling along the east coast of the North Island after six 12m containers were washed off a boat and into major shipping lanes.

Other casualties claimed by the storm that swamped American solo yachtsman Dewey Hodo ranged from battered commercial ships to recreational wind surfers.

Last night, forecasters were urging boaties to stay off the water for the next 48 hours with strong winds and large swells set to lash the North Island's east coast.

The outrigger crew were on a training run in the Waitemata Harbour when their boat capsized. The crew - who had limited swimming ability and were not wearing lifejackets - were lucky a passing Coastguard rescue vessel was there to pick them up.

The atrocious conditions also caused six containers to be swept off the Bunga Kerani on Saturday night in heavy seas between Little Barrier Island and Cape Karekare.

Auckland Volunteer Coastguard duty officer Dave Morris said the containers were a major threat to other vessels because they floated dangerously just below the surface in the main shipping lane.

The Rotoiti, another commercial vessel, limped into port at Auckland yesterday after being badly knocked around in the heavy seas.

A windsurfer had a lucky run-in with a Coastguard boat when a crew on a training exercise plucked the cold and exhausted man from the water just off Rangitoto Island.

One boat broke its moorings, another snapped its mast and two trailers overturned on the Harbour Bridge. MetService forecaster Pat Beswick said Auckland and Northland would have weaker north-easterly winds for the rest of the week as the low-pressure system moved away. Auckland can expect dry weather today and tomorrow.