Yacht abandoned in Kaikoura a mystery no moor

The owner of a boat thought to be abandoned in Kaikoura waters has come forward after numerous attempts by authorities to find him.

The 12-metre Hartley Queenslander yacht had been moored in Kaikoura for three months. It was towed to an area just off Jimmy Armers Beach by Coastguard Kaikoura after it broke from its moorings near North Wharf.

The boat will be moved to Lyttleton where repairs can be made.

Environment Canterbury harbourmaster Jim Dilley said neglected boats were becoming a problem nationally.

Four boats had been left in Canterbury waters in the past 12 months, and three in Kaikoura, while previously very few would have been cast aside.

Growing concern among boaties has created a forum on the The Great Green Quiz is being held at the Captain’s Daughter in Havelock on Friday, from 7pm to 9pm. Quizmaster and Kaikoura Green candidate Richard McCubbin will test the teams knowledge. $5 per person, teams of one to six people. website crew.org.nz dedicated to the issue.

‘‘All the boats that have come into Kaikoura we’ve been able to eventually find owners for, or the owners haven’t abandoned it in the first place,’’ Dilley said.

‘‘Generally they’ve come into Kaikoura after being rescued, and either been towed in by the coastguard or limped in with a ship alongside them guiding them in.

‘‘The one we’ve just dealt with was the only one where the owner disappeared.’’ Dilley put the problem down to a few reasons; fewer people sailing, boats getting older, cheaper boats flooding the market and owners less able to use them.

In the past year asking prices had dropped by 50 per cent, and more boats were being made or being brought into the country, he said.

‘‘It’s like an old car, you can buy newer cars for far less which are more reliable so people buy a newer car.

‘‘With boats people just tend to walk away from them.’’

Dilley knew of three incidences in the past year where people had got a good deal on a boat but were unable to maintain it.

‘‘The council has powers to get rid of them but only when we can’t find the owner so unfortunately there’s no law to stop people having a boat and neglecting it.’’

Under the Maritime Transport Act 1994, the council can remove a ship and dispose of it.