Close call for young sailors

YACHTING New Zealand is to investigate why one of its instructors took a boatload of young and inexperienced sailors out on Wellington Harbour in 100kmh winds.

The group’s 4.5-metre trimaran capsized off Petone Beach yesterday afternoon, spilling all five children, aged 12 and 13, into the water. Forecasters had warned strong winds were expected.

Maritime police were unimpressed that a Yachting NZ instructor took the children, some of whom were first-time sailors, out on the harbour in the conditions.

Sergeant Andy Cobden-Cox said the trimaran blew over and the young sailors ended up about 300 metres offshore. ‘‘A number of the kids were scared and finding it quite hard to breathe while they were in the water.’’

An inflatable dinghy from Petone Beach rescued the children, who were wearing lifejackets, then returned to retrieve their instructor.

Yachting NZ chief executive David Abercrombie said he would be talking to the instructor of the Sailing . . . Have a Go! event.

‘‘Something like this is not ideal and we are delighted no-one was injured.’’