"There is little better than a day out on the water. Whether it's a gentle sail, a blast up the coast, lines over the side, a dive to explore the bottom, or a get together with mates....
...there is little worse than finding yourself in trouble in that patch of paradise, wishing that you knew more, or that your family or crew could get you and your boat safely back to shore if ever they had to."
Coastguard looks out for the safety of every person who goes to sea off our coast or enjoys any of the region's harbours, or beaches.
Coastguard Mana made an appearance for the Children’s Day Teddy Bear’s Picnic and Fishing Carnival at Aotea Lagoon. We set up a display to provide pamphlets and information on safe boating as well as taking approximately 250 children on boat rides around the lagoon.
The day was a huge success with lots of happy children enjoying the nice sunny weather and getting a chance to have a go in a boat, many for the first time ever.
Thanks to all the volunteer crew who turned up to help - without the many helpers it would have been tough to keep all those exited children in line!
Click 'read more' to see photos.
Police received a call from a member of the public regarding a sighting of a light flashing intermittently off the coast of Plimmerton towards Mana Island.
Coastguard Mana were tasked to go out and search for the source of the light to ensure that it was not a distress signal.
A yellow "special mark" was found floating near the "reef" in the entrance to Plimmerton. This mark was a research buoy that had a yellow flashing light on top of it that flashed the sequence of 5 flashes every 15 seconds.
Today a crew from Coastguard Mana traveled up to Wanganui to pick up the replacement rescue vessel on loan from Coastguard NZ.
This video has been uploaded to show interested parties (including the rest of the volunteer crew) what the conditions and ride were like on the way.
Police callout 14ft Vessel, motor blown up, white hull red canopy, anchored in line with navigational triangles off Ngatitoa Domain, 2 x POB, Lifejackets on board, no oars, no auxiliary. Maritime radio broadcast for support CH16.
Hopefully we will see quite a few of you tonight when we will be going through the new way we plan to run call-outs and SAR work and also talk about specialisation of roles and the new protector.
Outcomes:
Good Samaratan Assistance call from 28ft ketch aground on Mana Bar. Launched CRV Pelorus to assess and investigate. After discussions with vessel owner decision made to tow vessel off the sandbar. Launched Porirua Rescue and in coordination with CRV Pelorus secured towline and pulled yacht off the sandbar. Yacht then proceeded back to Mana Cruising Club under own power. Porirua Rescue and CRV Pelorus returned to Mana Base.
Police callout to 18ft runabout anchored 500m off Plimmerton Fire Station with engine failure. Launched CRV Pelorus and located vessel. Secured runabout alongside and returned to public launching ramp. CRV Pelorus returned to Mana base.
The "new" Trust Porirua Rescue: Refurbishment almost complete
The replacement for Coastguard Mana's aging Waveney rescue boat, Trust Porirua Rescue, has come one step closer to Mana while it is being refurbished by Coastguard New Zealand. It is now in Wanganui for the finishing touches and a crew will be travelling up to Wanganui in early February 2010 to bring it down.
A 52ft charter fishing boat with 15 people on board broke down just as it was coming over the bar at Mana. CRV Porirua Rescue was dispatched to tow it back into Mana Marina.
Conditions were difficult with large waves coming over the bar and making things difficult while coming alongside to raft up for the tow alongside down the channel.
A charter fishing boat with ~15 clients on board broke down near Fishermans Rock in the middle of the Cook Strait as they were returning from the Marlborough Sounds.
CRV Porirua Rescue was dispatched to Fishermans Rock to tow them back to Mana. Heavy weather conditions were encountered rounding the north end of Mana Island with 3-4m waves.
