Coastguard southern regional manager Rob Creasy said the trio had ventured in a dinghy and kayak to Bluff harbour’s Spencer Island during calm waters.
"They just got caught out by the wind conditions . . .and were finding it very difficult to get back."
The trio made the right decision to call the Coastguard as they did not want to risk the paddle back.
"I understand the swell and the wind in particular had made it difficult to navigate their way back safely.
"It was a good outcome for everyone concerned," he said.
People venturing on to waters, particularly in the South, needed to check the weather and marine forecast because the conditions could be changeable, even in the summer season.
"Foveaux Strait can be quite dangerous and change rapidly, so it was a very good decision on their part."
Mr Creasy said apart from last weekend’s incident, it had been a quiet holiday period for the Bluff Coastguard.
He believed the wettish summer had meant less people opted to spend time around and on the water.
Riverton Coastguard president and skipper Ross McKenzie also said apart from a couple of "good samaritan tow jobs" over the Christmas period the public had experienced a safe summer on the water.
"Things have been busy, like the boat ramps.
"There’s been plenty of people out fishing and up and down the shore and on the beach over the summer period.
"Both Colac Bay and the foreshore at Riverton were pretty packed . . . So there’s plenty of people around."
He believed the public were becoming more aware of what can happen on the water.
". . .Taking precautions they need to and looking after themselves."
The triple fatality when a boat capsized crossing the Riverton sand bar in August 2024 was "a bit of a wake-up call" that reminded people even in calm and great conditions accidents with big consequences could happen, he said.
A recent lifejacket and water safety social media campaign had also helped to keep incident numbers down.
"I think the message is getting through to people."
Mr McKenzie said the coastguard volunteers not been beached all summer but had taken advantage of the quiet season to take its new state-of-the-art $1.6 million, 10m-coastguard vessel on some training runs.
- I think the message is getting through to people.
