21 Nov 2012

Coastguard commends radio call

10:59 pm on 21 November 2012

Three men rescued from a boat after it began taking on water have been commended by Coastguard officials for having the correct radio equipment.

A call for help was made in the early hours of Wednesday from the 14-metre sloop Freedom Hunter, which was sailing from Fiji to Opua in the Far North.

After several attempts to take the crew off the yacht, it was towed into Mangonui Harbour.

Coastguard duty officer Ray Burge says the crew was fortunate to have the right radios on board.

Some other boaties try to use cell phones instead of radios, which often delays the rescue response and can be extremely dangerous, he says.

Mr Burge says the Freedom Hunter's crew was experienced and grateful for the rescue.