The New Zealand Defence Force committed the HMNZS Te Kaha to search and rescue mission on February 17. Photo / File
The New Zealand Defence Force committed the HMNZS Te Kaha to search and rescue mission on February 17. Photo / File
A skipper who sparked a major search and rescue operation with a confusing Mayday call will not face any further actions, Maritime NZ says.
Rescuers looking for the yacht Tribe on February 17 say the search was frustrated by a lack of yacht name and accurate location in the Maydaycall.
Maritime NZ spokesman Vince Cholewa said distressing circumstances had hampered the skipper.
"He was under high stress, in a very noisy environment, single-handedly struggling to manage his yacht and keep his inexperienced crew member safe in heavy seas, strong wind and increasing darkness."
Five sea vessels, two helicopters, and three planes – with an additional helicopter and plane on standby – scoured the waters at different points for the yacht Tribe after the skipper made a brief and partial Mayday call on February 17 around 6.30pm.
This did not happen until Thursday afternoon when Northland police received a call from the elusive yacht's skipper, now 150km away in Bream Bay south of Whangārei, asking if they were being looked for.
Maritime NZ officers spoke to Tribe's skipper in the wake of the search and concluded he lacked a thorough understanding about the distress channel, VHF channel 16.
Cholewa said Maritime NZ staff had discussed this concern with the "open and co-operative" man.
"Maritime NZ has decided it will not take further action against him."
The costs of the rescue operation have been requested.
An Auckland Coastguard Air Patrol aircraft joined the search on Wednesday to find the missing yacht. Photo / File
Eight-metre swells had confronted the yacht Tribe as night fell on February 17. The distressed skipper radioed the emergency VHF channel to report his yacht had taken on water and was sinking.
He gave co-ordinates as best he could before he was no longer able to use or listen to his handheld VHF radio, attached to his clothing.
"He did not hear any of the radio messages to him and the broadcasts to all vessels in the search area," Cholewa said.
The skipper spent the next several hours using the yacht's motor to get out of the storm waters off the east coast of the Coromandel Peninsula to calmer seas.
In those hours the New Zealand Defence Force committed the HMNZ Te Kaha and Royal New Zealand Air Force C130 Hercules to the search.
A Seasprite helicopter and P3 Orion – returning from a search and rescue mission in the Pacific – were both placed on standby.
Coastguard vessels from Whangamata, Whitianga, Tairua/Pauanui, and Waiheke Island searched on Wednesday and the Auckland Air Patrol plane joined the search on Thursday.
Bay of Plenty based commercial operator Sunair contributed an aircraft to the search and rescue for nearly four hours.
A helicopter each from the Auckland Rescue Helicopter Trust and Philips Search and Rescue Trust searched on Wednesday.
Police were also on hand providing critical and important support. They fielded calls from the public from which they made inquiries, and helped contact families of other yachts in the search area.
"The key message for all boaties are, take two waterproof ways to call for help and if you believe life is in danger you should not hesitate to make a Mayday call – delay can be fatal," Cholewa said.
And if things improve, cancel the Mayday call with another radio call.
A distress beacon was a vital piece of gear recommended by Maritime NZ as it notifies RCCNZ of the location via a global satellite system.
But once activated it needs to be left on.
"If you turn it off, we have the position you were at but no way of knowing if you've moved or what's happened."
