A tribute to a well built boat........
This is a photo story of the salvage of the multihull 7603 Catabatic, a Freckington 9.8m catamaran seen here in more pleasant sailing conditions at the Bay of Islands sailing Week.
The boat capsized in the Colville Channel between the top of the Corromandel peninsula and Great barrier Island on the outer edge of Auckland's Hauraki Gulf while competing in the annual Auckland to Tauranga race.
Like all yacht owners who have put years of hard work and attention into the building of their precious vessel, and indeed like all who see boats as more than inanimate objects - there comes an emotional trauma when things go wrong and something has to be done to remedy the situation.
Complicated by the hospitalisation of one of the three crew for a shoulder injury and after surviving the capsize, rescue, transfer to a Coastguard vessel off the Corromandel coast and travel to Auckland with little sleep, the remaining crew hired Macey Gray an Auckland based Salvage vessel to find Catabatic and return her safely home. These photos tell the story.............
Found floating in the Colville Channel off the coast of Great Barrier Island in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf.
Clear seas - you can see the sails beneath the boat
The Boarding party go to check out the situation on the yacht.
Attaching the bridle and towline to the Catamaran Yacht.
Saved Screecher sail heads for safety on another boat.
The boat gets pushed round into the wind
Several attempts were made to pull the boat over
Sideways attempt - still proved too buoyant
After numerous attempts and techniques the decision was made to tow the boat closer to Auckland.
The boats arrived at Station Bay on Motutapu Island at 4.30am after a 10 hour trip averaging 2 knots and awaited the arrival of the divers to clear the rig before heading for the more shallow waters of Auckland Harbour.
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The divers worked to locate the trailing debris and rig. A marker buoy shows the position of the mast.
The remaining top end of the mast is pulled to the surface.
The yacht's rig is attached to the crane on Macey Gray and extracted from the depths.
The rig just keeps on coming. Apart from the initial section the rest of the mast is largely intact.
The rig was craned aboard the Macey Gray and layed across the deck where it was lashed in place.
The tangle at the end of the yachts rig. Caught up amongst the sheets and lines were sections of the mainsail and the anchor with warp and chain still attached. No wonder we only made two knots on our trip back!
Even the boom was still attached!
The tangle at the gooseneck needed to be cut free.
Craning the boom aboard
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The missing top of the mast is recovered and hauled on deck.
Pile of debris on the deck of Macey Gray
Yacht's Titanium Forestay Tang sheared off.
The boom and topmast on the deck. At least the sponsor's stickers survived!
One last attempt to right the boat before towing her to Auckland's Viaduct Harbour.
Some of the yacht's gear piled on the dock in the Viaduct Harbour
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The boat is hoisted up by a crane.
Over half a ton of water drains out. The Port side is more full as the forward hatch was open.
Finally heading for normality.
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Almost there!
Touchdown!
Finally - the anchor locker can be closed. Amazed it's still there after being dragged across the Hauraki Gulf.
Up the right way at last - a bit too heavy in the bow. Still got some water to move!
Water level in the Starboard Hull
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Water level in the Port Hull
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Water level inside the hull.
There's a lot to do but the boat is safely back in familiar waters and the right way up. It's amazing how little damage the boat has suffered. The rudders, dagger boards deck gear and even the winch handles survived the adventure. The whole inside needs cleaning out. The Standing and running rigging certainly needs fixing, but here's hoping Catabatic will be back for the next Summer sailing season.
Eight years in the building and worth every minute - This is an incredibly strong and well built boat.
Tags: Yacht Catamaran Rescue Catabatic Auckland Pitchpole Capsize
