SAROP Sinclair

This SAROP on the Wellington south coast was to assist RCC/police with a shoreline search for 2 missing recreational boaters whose boat flipped around 1800 on 30th off Sinclair Head. One of the occupants of the boat managed to swim ashore around 0330 on 31st – he was swept as far as Lyall Bay (off the end of the airport) but managed to swim ashore.

The two others from the boat were located in the water around 1000 on 31st about 3kms offshore. The first guy was spotted by a Helipro chopper and the second by Lady Liz IV (they were apart). One of the guys who was in water till 1000 was status 1 (serious medical condition) and taken to hospital by Westpac. The second guy who was located on 31st was in very good condition.

These guys were quite lucky – a couple were wearing full wetsuits. One had only a wetsuit top on apparently (think this was the status 1 guy). The two guys who spent all night out had life jackets with them. The guy who swam ashore had only a wetsuit. They were very lucky (assuming the status 1 guy makes it…) as the weather conditions today were ideal. Understand that RCC had bought in 3 helicopters and there were around 6 boats, plus the Cook Strait Ferries were also looking during their normal crossings.

The boat they used was bought off Trade Me a couple of weeks ago…

It got quite windy in the afternoon – the forecast was for 30 knots from the North for the afternoon… (I was kayaking in the harbour in the morning and the wind was enough to bring me ashore around midday as it was getting stronger).

LandSAR Wellington involvement was to do a shore search – we assembled around 0930 but were stood down just about the time we were sending teams out. For a bit more on what happened see the following www.stuff.co.nz/national/4504459/Missing-boaties-found-alive-in-Cook-Strait.

Those who responded to this were: Peter Smith, Wayne Stevens, Rowena Johnstone, Paul Andrews, Peter Tunnicliff, Nicole Ranger, Meg Shaw, Pete King, Sue Cuthbertson, Paul Bird, Rochelle Andrews.

From the police: Jo Holden, Mike Wright, Lisa Toseland, Dave Ross, and a number of general duties guys… Miriam Reddington, Arnold Pohtini, Nathalie Jones, Jon Rosene, Chris Henry, Richard Matthews, Rachael Dundon, Glenn Connell, Kathryn Groube, Gareth Barnes.

The following people were on standby at home: Noel Sulzberger, Andrew Chisholm .