Coastguard Wānaka Lakes (CWL) took possession of its new rescue boat on Saturday (October 22) and stored it safely at its new home at Eely Point reserve.

After an “interesting” trip from Auckland for the rescue truck and trailer mounted vessel, CWL president Jonathan Walmisley said he was relieved to see the vessel parked up in its purpose-built storage at the almost complete Marine Rescue Centre.

There was “a rough ferry crossing and a mudguard fell off the trailer…[but] it’s here; it fits; so, yes, I’m happy,” he said.

The nine metre long Protector vessel was originally purchased for use as a patrol craft during the 2021 America’s Cup in Auckland with a $9.8M lottery grant and has been refitted and rebranded for search and rescue operations.

The twin-engine, 9m long Protector has been refitted for search and rescue operations.

It will replace the CWL’s current Naiad rescue craft which will be sold. 

Jonathan said the new rescue craft is more capable, will provide quicker response times, longer duration on the water and an enhanced ability to operate in rough weather. 

The vessel has been in storage for the past year and requires a full inspection before CWL’s volunteer crews will get a chance to take it out on the lake for training.

While its electronic navigation system is much the same as the Naiad, each crew member will still require six or seven hours of training to adapt to the new rescue craft.

“She's a bigger boat; she handles slightly differently; her engines are bigger and she’s got different equipment,” Jonathan said. 

The plan is to have the crews converted and the new vessel operational in time for the public ceremony at midday on Sunday November 27 when the new Marine Rescue Centre will be officially opened and the new vessel will be formally named.

The new Marine Rescue Centre, which provides storage for the new rescue truck, trailer and boat, is almost complete.

“We kiss goodbye to the Naiad and bless this one as the new operational boat for Wānaka Lakes,” he said.

The new vessel has been gifted a name by Te Rūnanga o Moeraki and it will be known as Waiariki Rescue. Waiariki is the original name for Stevensons Arm.

Jonathan said the vessel would be fully operational before the busy summer season begins and the plan was to position the craft on the lake at a marina berth during the height of summer to avoid the risk of transportation congestion.

The marina berth is an interim solution until a new boat ramp is constructed at Eely Point. 

The council’s Eely Point Recreational Reserve development plan identified the need for a boat ramp in August 2018 and while council funding for a new ramp has been budgeted in successive annual plans its construction is yet to take place.

PHOTOS: Wānaka App