Teen’s dinghy trip in dire straits
Police would not go as far as to say the decision — at night no less — was crazy
Ateenager rescued after trying to cross Cook Strait in a 3m wooden dinghy was trying to visit family in the North Island. The 18-year-old set off from Kenepuru Sound about 10pm on Wednesday and motored through Pelorus Sound in the open craft before crossing the Cook Strait.
About 9am yesterday the teen called for help, saying he had broken down at sea a few kilometres off the Mana coast, but was unsure of his exact location.
Police used the teen’s cellphone to locate him, He was found 12km west of Mana Island. A Westpac helicopter directed a police launch to the teen’s drifting boat.
The young man was in a reasonably good condition, slightly cold but not hypothermic, Wellington Maritime Police senior sergeant Dave Houston said.
“He’s lacked preparation to do essentially a 100km voyage in a dinghy,” Houston told the Herald.
“In his situation, he didn’t check the weather forecast and lucky for him, it was probably the best weather conditions you could actually get.
“We’ve got strong tides that go through the channel, lots of rips and unsettled water.
“It’s all quite unpredictable and can change at the drop of a hat.” A southerly had been blowing through the region all week, Houston said, and the young man said at times the conditions were challenging, with a 1m swell running.
Houston would not go as far as to say the decision to try to attempt the journey — at night no less — was crazy, but he advised against others doing so.
Greater Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder said when he got the call he initially thought it was a hoax. The teen told him he was out somewhere near Mana, his dinghy had broken down, and was in need of a tow.
“He didn’t actually sound stressed, he didn’t sound panicky, he was almost very laid back and relaxed. He was quite casual about needing a tow.”
Nalder said anyone on the water in distress should dial 111 to get emergency services moving more quickly and recommended they carry a personal locator beacon.
“I don’t really advise small boats with no lights being out in the dark either . . . There are better ways of crossing the Cook Strait, like catching the ferry.
“It was probably an ambitious journey shall we say.”
Houston said it was a reminder that the Cook Strait was a dangerous stretch of water.
“You need to have all proper safety equipment and be an experienced and capable seaman if you are going to make this coastal voyage.
“While the man did have a lifejacket on and carried his cell phone, he had not checked the weather conditions and was not an experienced seaman. Everybody going out on the water needs to remember to wear a lifejacket, check the conditions and only go out if it is calm and go out in daylight.
“If it wasn’t for him ringing and us being able to locate him from his phone data it could have been a very different outcome,” Houston said.
“The battery on his cell phone was becoming flat. If we didn’t have the mobile locate we would have had a massive search. The mobile locate literally saved his life.”
I don’t really advise small boats with no lights being out in the dark either . . . There are better ways of crossing the Cook Strait, like catching the ferry.
Greater Wellington Harbourmaster Grant Nalder