Yachts retire following Auckland to Tauranga Yacht Race incident

A distress call was made last night after Katana was dismastered. Photo / Auckland to Tauranga Yacht Race

Maritime New Zealand reported that Katana had broken its mast overnight and has motored to Tryphena during the Auckland to Tauranga Yacht Race.

A Facebook post by race organisers said Katana had been dismasted and that yachts, Wright One and Pork Chop, had retired to Port Charles.

Maritime New Zealand spokesperson, Vince Cholewa, said there was little knowledge on the incident, but that a distress call had been made on channel 16 by crew on Katana.

"They did make a radio call that was picked up by the Maritime operations centre in Lower Hutt, they advised at that stage that they had been dismasted, they were trying to clear the rigging, nobody was hurt, and if they could, they'd make their own way to a port," Cholewa told the Herald.

"There would have been a discussion to the radio operator they were talking to as well, and they arrived at Tryphena at about 2:30am today."

"We don't have the details of what happened, but what they said over the radio was that they were dismastered."

Commodore of the Tauranga Yacht Club told the Herald that other boats had responded to the radio call in what was described as rough sailing conditions.

"One of the other boats answered that distress signal but were unable to offer any assistance."

"It's just one of those things that can happen, it was apparently quite rough seas up there on top of the Coromandel."

More to come