Cyclone Vaianu rescue alert sparks three-hour Kawau coastguard search

Kawau Coastguard volunteers went on an impromptu call-out during ex-tropical cyclone Vaianu last weekend. Photo / Kawau Volunteer Coastguard

During ex-tropical cyclone Vaianu, a volunteer Coastguard crew attempting to assist a troubled boatie in the Mahurangi Harbour discovered there was no one on the “ghost” vessel.

After spotting a houseboat listing on the Mahurangi River and hearing what they believed was a horn, a member of the public alerted the Kawau Volunteer Coastguard with fears someone may be aboard.

This prompted a nearly three-hour search early on Sunday evening.

Skipper Paul Steinkamp shared details of the call-out in a post, including how the Kawau volunteers hadn’t expected to attend any jobs during Vaianu.

Despite having all “hunkered down” at home for the storm, the team were able to prepare and leave only 15 minutes after receiving reports of the troubled ship.

Conditions on the water were described as fairly moderate as the cyclone was already winding down, but the crew were looking out for logs and debris.

“The sea was actually calm, and we were helped by being sheltered by the land from the strong SW [southwest] winds”, Steinkamp said in his post.

It “was a muddy brown from all the mud washed down from the land and with the sun setting and low-lying cloud, there was a pinkish-grey tinge to the light”.

The houseboat was found beyond Grants Island with the crew “quickly” realising no one was on board as they shone torches inside.

While it was listing, there was “no life in danger so we left it where it was anchored, close in towards the shore”, Steinkamp said.

The crew also attended a second job in Ngaio Bay as they received word of another possible incident on the way to Scott’s Landing.

“He was reporting another boat that he thought was a run about that had capsized but it seemed to have disappeared, and he wasn’t sure where it had gone,” Steinkamp said.

This also ended up being an uneventful call-out as the alleged boat could not be found and he said the team were home in Sandspit by 8pm that night.

“Thanks to Andrew, Craig, Glen, Luke and Jim (first call-out I think!)”, the skipper wrote in the post.