Nature batters fleet, keeps rescuers busy

By JOSIE CLARKE

Rain squalls, winds up to 35 knots and 2m swells combined for an uncomfortable Auckland Anniversary Day Regatta yesterday, keeping the Coastguard busy in Waitemata Harbour.

While rescue services were relieved many boaties heeded warnings and kept off the water, some of those who ventured out struck trouble early.

About 11 am, Coastguard and police launches rescued about a dozen people when a squall overturned four to five boats between Chelsea and Birkenhead. Some of those rescued were Sea Scouts sailing a cutter.

Two keelers lost their masts and were towed to shore by Coastguard. Several windsurfers and capsized small boats were also assisted.

A number of craft sheltered at Great Barrier Island late yesterday while skippers waited to hear if they could make a safe journey back to Auckland.

On Sunday, the Coastguard was run off its feet dealing with a spate of incidents on the harbour and in the Hauraki Gulf as strong winds and ill-prepared boaties combined for a day of chaos.

Yesterday's weather forced the cancellation of all small sailing craft races. Only about half of the expected number of larger boats turned out.

Organisers also cancelled the journey by the waka Mahuhu O Te Rangi around the frigate Te Mana moored off Orakei Wharf. Regatta committee chairman John Smart said safety came first. "The wind needs to be under 20 knots for the waka to be safe. And boats with children on board were better off staying at home."

The New Zealand Herald Foundation's charity lunch on board Te Mana raised more than $15,000 for the Spirit of Adventure Trust.

Lieutenant-Commander Jim Kerry said the lunch was delayed by an hour as guests were transported through rough seas to the ship, but otherwise events went "extremely well."

Coastguard duty officer Laurence Ryan said the harbour was almost deserted, with the number of spectator craft the lowest he had seen for the annual regatta.

The MetService said a low which intensified after crossing the South Island at the weekend caused the heavy falls of rain and strong winds that have lashed much of the country.

In the top half of the North Island, the Hauraki Gulf took the worst battering from winds, where they peaked at 55 km/h yesterday.

Westerly winds over much of the North Island are expected to start to ease from later today and come from the south, with a high due tomorrow. Showers are expected to have cleared in most places by Thursday.

The weather caused chaos at Waipu Cove in Northland on Sunday, with surf lifesavers hauling eight people to safety within 90 minutes.

Melanie Wilson, captain of the Waipu Cove Surf Lifesaving Club, said the 10.30 am to noon period was the busiest she had encountered in seven or eight years as a volunteer lifeguard.

Most of those rescued had started off swimming between the flags but had drifted 100m down the beach, where they encountered a rip running near rocks.