Calm waters meant the owner of a 7-metre wooden launch that broke its mooring and washed up on Pilot Bay yesterday escaped a hefty repair bill, or losing the vessel altogether.
Mount Maunganui police were called to The Mall about 7am yesterday after the launch, Triton, was reported adrift in Pilot
Bay about 400 metres south of the boat ramp.
Officers arrived to find the vessel beached on the sand and contacted the harbour master, who spoke to the owner who was in Rotorua.
"This morning the weather wasn't terrible, which was very fortunate." harbour master Karl Magazinovic said.
He said it appeared the launch had broken loose as the result of an adjustment made to the mooring by the owner.
"The owner has taken charge of it and he will arrange to get it taken off the beach and towed back out," Mr Magazinovic said.
He did not believe the boat had been damaged and said it was due to be towed out and re-moored at high tide last night.
Mr Magazinovic said the incident was a reminder to boaties not to make adjustments to their moorings without consulting a harbour master or mooring contractor.
He said boat owners purchased the moorings themselves, but Bay of Plenty Regional Council bylaws stated they must be checked by a mooring contractor once every two years.
Boaties must also pay an annual licence fee of $135 to the council to have their boats moored at Pilot Bay.
