Mechanical problem – 12/27/2016 – 13:09 to 15:50

At 1309hrs the skipper of a boat reported 18nm north of Whakatane with a hydraulic problem and may need to be towed across the Whakatane Bar.Conditions were good with an incoming tide .5m swell and a NW wind 15-20 kts.At 1400hrs the boat anchored off the Whakatane Bar requesting a tow.Whakatane Rescue was tasked to assist but was then called out to another incident (see next report).At 1537hrs the boat was taken under tow by Whakatane Rescue and both boats were safely back in the harbour at 1550hrs