Yacht aground on breakwater sandbank

A yacht had come from Nelson overnight, hit a storm in Cook Strait and decided to run into Porirua Harbour at night.

Tired crew and insufficient local knowledge meant that they did not follow the lights and ran aground several times on the way before sticking on the sandbank outside the Marina on a rising tide with the wind blowing them onto the breakwater.

MR1 with 4 crew attended, putting 1 crew on the yacht to assist, towed them to deep water. From there she then motored safely into the breastworks outside Mana Cruising Club.

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