Three people and a dog probably could not have chosen a better - or more public - place to sink their jet-boat than in front of thousands of spectators at yesterday's Winter Festival Day in the Bay events on Queenstown beach.
Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black said the group had been preparing to watch the jet sprints from the private boat in the middle of Queenstown Bay about 1pm when their small, outboard-powered craft began sinking from the stern.
Mr Black said yelling from crowd members on Earnslaw wharf alerted him and festival crew to the sinking and by the time he arrived only the boat's nose was visible.
The English owner of the boat and three friends were on board with a dog and were rescued by Mr Black, who towed them ashore on his jet ski.
"It was more exciting than the jet sprints," Mr Black said.
He said the people on the boat were all wearing lifejackets and the recovered boat was not extensively damaged - just a "bit wet".
The Queenstown Coastguard were also on standby but not required and Mr Black said the sinking had been the only incident over a busy weekend in which there were "no issues".
