Tuesday, 4 July 2023

Oamaru yacht retrieval not all smooth sailing

    1. Regions
    2. North Otago

    The Black Crow was retrieved from the water by a giant crane early this afternoon. Photo: Graham...
    The Black Crow was retrieved from the water by a giant crane early this afternoon. Photo: Graham McKerracher
    A yacht which sank in Oamaru Harbour has been lifted out of the water in a three hour operation.

    A large crane was used this morning to retrieve the 12m Black Crow which came off its mooring and sank in Oamaru Harbour last Wednesday.

    The operation was halted at one point when the concrete-hulled yacht became tangled in fishing net and had to be lowered back into the water to disentangle it.

    The extraction attracted a crowd of more than 50 people, who made the most of a beautiful day to watch the operation, which took over three hours to complete.

    The yacht on shore following the retrieval. Photo: Graham McKerracher
    The yacht on shore following the retrieval. Photo: Graham McKerracher
    The boat is owned by Oamaru man Mike Harris, who tried to refloat the boat twice before a decision was made to use the crane.

    It has not yet been established how the vessel came adrift.

    Plans at the moment are to get the boat repaired.