Wind causes problems for yachts, shipping

Storm-force winds on Saturday caused problems for some people along the coast but were a bonus for bird-watchers.

Winds of up to 120kmh (65.3 knots) caused the Port Otago container terminal to shut down, a coastal tanker to leave without making its delivery, a boat to lose its moorings and yachting regattas to be cancelled.

But, on the positive side, the conditions attracted four varieties of subantarctic albatross not usually seen so close to the coast.

Just after noon on Saturday, the yacht The Mutineer had to be towed to safety in Careys Bay by Port Chalmers fishing vessel Sanspeur when it got stuck on the Deborah Bay sandbar after breaking free of its moorings at Deborah Bay.

The Mutineer skipper Bob Matthews, of Dunedin, declined to comment after the rescue.

Assistance was also provided by Deborah Bay resident Kevin Braid, who used his outboard motor boat to help in water too shallow for the larger rescue boat to negotiate.

Dunedin marine search and rescue chairman Martin Balch urged boat users to secure their boats firmly when weather warnings were in place.

He believed the yacht broke free around dawn.

Port Otago chief executive Geoff Plunket said yesterday the high winds had prevented work on the Maersk Dominica for most of Saturday, but work resumed yesterday and the ship was due to leave this afternoon.

As well, the coastal tanker Kakariki left for Lyttelton without discharging its cargo in Dunedin.

After arriving on Friday, the ship sheltered at Port Chalmers and then left for Lyttelton on Saturday afternoon without calling at the oil berth in the upper harbour.

Mr Plunket said he understood Kakariki was due to deliver bitumen only.

Five harbour regattas involving 60 yachts were cancelled because of the wind.

Race controller Martin Balch said winds of up to 92kmh (50 knots) were lifting spray off the tops of waves in the upper harbour and conditions were unsuitable for racing.

Anything over 46kmh (25 knots) was "pretty tough" for dingy sailing.

Monarch skipper Sean Heseltine said the strong west southwest winds did not disrupt sight-seeing trips to Taiaroa Head.

"It's an offshore breeze for us so the harbour stays flat ...

"It's just exciting with wind flapping around your ears," Mr Heseltine said.

He said the winds attracted birds not often seen so close to the mainland.

As well as being treated to flying displays by the Taiaroa Head resident population of northern royal albatross, visitors got to see Buller's, white-capped, southern royal and black-browed albatross.

"If it's nice weather they just stay miles away but if it's fresh and breezy they'll come in."

Mr Heseltine said the wind was warmer and drier than the usual southerly because it was more westerly and picked up heat from inland Otago.