At 1331hr a 5m fibreglass boat with 2 POB reported that it had broached and nearly capsized while attempting to cross the Whakatane Bar. The boat recovered and stood off safely 0.5nm out to sea and at 1444hr requested assistance from Coastguard. The Whakatane Bar was turbulent with an outgoing tide and 2m waves. However, further off-shore the sea surface conditions were slight with 2-3m swells. Wind was 6-8kt from the North. At 1504hr Whakatane Rescue was tasked to assist.
While being launched, another call was received via the Radio Operator that a swimmer was in trouble off Ohope Beach. Whakatane Rescue upgraded their response and proceeded to Ohope. No swimmer could be found and at 1538hr Whakatane Rescue was stood down from this search and resumed the initial callout.
The owner of the broached boat was not confident to pilot his boat across the bar again so it was decided to investigate anchoring over-night at the buoy in Otawairere Bay. Whakatane Rescue proceeded to Otawairere Bay to inspect conditions in the bay but decided that the large swells breaking over the reef off-shore from the buoy made the mooring unsafe. It was decided that a Whakatane Recue member would pilot the boat over the Whakatane Bar and at 1614hr both boats were safely back in port.
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