Tweet
Observers who had seen Easy Rider leave Bluff Harbour on its final journey had told him it was very low in the water, Ingram said.
When the boat backed out of its berth water had flowed over the stern.
When the boat backed out of its berth water had flowed over the stern.
The Easy Rider had set off from Bluff in weather described by local fishermen as poor.
TAIC said the weather had been forecast to deteriorate further with the passing of a frontal system across the Foveaux Strait area.
The wind was forecast to increase to about 40 to 50 knots from the northwest before easing to 15 knots from the south west after the front had passed.
TAIC said the weather had been forecast to deteriorate further with the passing of a frontal system across the Foveaux Strait area.
The wind was forecast to increase to about 40 to 50 knots from the northwest before easing to 15 knots from the south west after the front had passed.
Easy Rider had been loaded with ice and bait in the fish hold, and cod and crayfish pots and other associated fishing gear on the deck, TAIC said.
The skipper then loaded stores, equipment and personal effects for the passengers who were going muttonbirding.
The stores and equipment covered most of the back fishing deck and in places was stacked as high as the roof of the wheelhouse.
The skipper then loaded stores, equipment and personal effects for the passengers who were going muttonbirding.
The stores and equipment covered most of the back fishing deck and in places was stacked as high as the roof of the wheelhouse.
Comment