A yacht is perched precariously on a sand bar at the northern end of Bucklands Beach after high winds whipped up the Tamaki estuary.
The boat looks stable against the bar, but severe south-westerlies and heavy seas could push it towards a rocky area, and potentially severe damage, as well as health and safety issues on Bucklands Beach road.
According to AT Media Relations manager Mark Hannan, the Harbourmaster has been contacted and says “the owner for this boat has been contacted and he has arranged a salvor to re-float it and take it to Half Moon Bay Marina. This probably won’t happen until the tide is right tomorrow.”
Hannan added that AT’s message to people is to not go out and check their boat moorings today, and “is the same as in Level 4, stay at home. It’s too late to be going and checking your boat once bad weather is upon us.”
Today’s weather forecasts strong south-westerlies, up to 65kph to batter Tamaki Makaurau until this evening.