Dinghy adrift as storm approaches

Police were alerted to a 4m runabout adrift somewhere offshore to the west of Mana Island after breaking down. Communications were via a mobile phone and once Coastguard Mana were dispatched it was determined that they were in fact closer to Hunters Bank near Pukerua Bay. At the same time a severe southerly storm [2] was approaching Wellington.

CRV Trust Porirua Rescue [3] with 5 crew members initially had difficulty locating them due to the inaccuracy of the location information given by the people on the boat. They were contacted via telephone and advised that we would release a white parachute flare to help them determine where we were in relation to them. This helped to refine the estimated position meaning that TPR could close in on the area the boat was drifting. Once closer they were advised by the Coastguard Master to activate an orange smoke flare. This was immediately spotted by the CRV crew approximately 3NM away and as they closed in on the smoke they spotted the vessel.

The two men on board were getting cold but otherwise well. The fact that they had a means of communication and flares certainly saved them from a potentially disasterous situation as a southerly storm was moving up the country [4] and expected to arrive within an hour or two.

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