Three people have been pulled from the Kawhia Harbour after their fibreglass boat capsized while crossing the bar about 10am today.
A 14 year-old boy and two men in their 30s were returned safely to shore by a nearby charter boat and treated and cleared by medical staff.
Kawhia Coastguard said the occupants were all wearing lifejackets and logged a crossing report with Coastguard Radio.
Police said the skipper tried to do everything right but the fact that his boat was still capsized indicated how dangerous and unpredictable the bar could be.
Their boat, a 5.7 metre fibreglass boat, was still stuck on the bar, said Senior Sergeant Pete van de Wetering of Waikato District Command Centre.
"The boat itself basically sunk and is swirling around on the bar at Kawhia Harbour.
"The sea conditions are too rough to try to recover the boat," he said this morning.
Van de Wetering expected the incoming tide would wash the boat into the harbour later this afternoon.
The opportunity for recovery as well as risk to the public of this boat will be monitored by police and Coastguard together with the boat owner.
Police would appreciate if boaties who spotted the fibreglass vessel would report its GPS coordinates to police.
Police are warning the Kawhia bar is very unpredictable and anybody considering crossing it should seek advice from local boat operators and the Coastguard on how best to do it.
Source: Waikato Times
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