Four Gore men were rescued yesterday after their boat started taking on water while they were fishing near Ruapuke Island in Foveaux Strait about 10.20am.
The 7m pleasure craft Under Pressure sank to the bottom within minutes, but the men were rescued by the occupants of two other boats who responded quickly to their mayday call, Bluff Fishermen's Radio co-ordinator Meri Leask said last night.
"The first one got there within eight minutes . . . the rescued men didn't even get their feet wet."
A towrope was tied to the disabled vessel, but it disappeared beneath the surface soon afterwards, despite the glassy, calm sea.
The four were "very lucky gentlemen" to be rescued so quickly, she said.
Seven vessels responded to the mayday call, including the Bluff coastguard boat, which was out on the strait on a training exercise.
The two boats which rescued the men were also private pleasure craft.
The rescued men were delivered to the Bluff wharf about noon and went home to Gore.
The boat was well equipped, Mrs Leask said.
It appeared a hose had come off the main motor and water was sucked into the boat instead of being pumped out.
"It is one of those things that happen. I think the men were surprised at how quickly the boat began sinking."
