A homemade boat race featuring a floating car and a couch on a tyre stack in Auckland's Hauraki Gulf this afternoon has sparked a Coastguard call-out.
Coastguard spokeswoman Georgie Smith said Coastguard boats from the North Shore and Hibiscus Coast went to the scene near Gulf Harbour after a member of the public alerted them to the makeshift vessels at 2.20pm.
There were five or six "boats" involved in the race.
Most of the people on board appeared to be under the influence of alcohol but were wearing lifejackets, she said.
One of the vessels capsized at 3.20pm and the occupants had to be rescued from the water. They were being transported to Gulf Harbour Marina by the Coastguard.
Police and the Auckland Harbourmaster will meet the racers at the marina.
Photos of the makeshift vessels were posted to Coastguard's Northern Region Facebook page.
One photo shows a couch on a tyre stack, carrying three men in lifejackets, being towed by a dinghy. The couch has been fitted with a wooden flag and what appears to be a mannequin's head on a stake.
Another photo shows a Subaru car on the water with a man fishing out the back.
"We understand it was a bit of a homemade boat race. It's a very interesting choice," Ms Smith said.
"Coastguard's role is to ensure everyone's safety on the water. That's the key thing for us."
By Lauren Priestley of NZME. News Service
