Ella Bradwell, 8, of Auckland, enjoys a body board at Ruakaka Beach, the yacht P. Lee Can behind her. Photo / Tania Whyte
A yacht that came too close to shore and ran aground in low tide off Ruakaka will be dismantled.
The P. Lee Can, registered in Southport, Australia, ran aground about 300 metres south of Ruakaka about 11am on Saturday and an attempt by a Coastguard vessel to pull her into
deeper waters later that day failed.
Owner Geoff Phillips, 77, had been trying to help his wife Aylin, who was in a dinghy a little closer to shore, but got stuck in the shallower water - a decision he concedes was "stupid". The experienced sailor had set out from Australia in 2001 with a plan to sail around the world, but after a tour around New Zealand he decided to make himself at home. He said the cost to refloat the yacht by a commercial tug boat would be between $20,000 and $40,000.
"We've been advised to break it up and take it away on a truck. There's not a lot we can do. The yacht's a write-off."
Yesterday, waves were crashing into the tilted ketch with beachgoers frolicking in the waters around it. Ruakaka residents were shocked to see the yacht come so close to shore and some even witnessed her run aground.
