Three yachties in Doubtless Bay have the Mangonui Fire Brigade to thank for saving their boats.
Volunteer members of the brigade in an inflatable rescue craft went out on the harbour in gale force winds on Wednesday night to secure two yachts that had broken from their moorings and were drifting onto rocks.
Fire chief Pete Sainsbury says the third vessel - a 35-foot yacht - had almost run aground on Paiwhenua Island when the brigade reached it.
He says they were able to start the engine in the nick of time and power it back to Mangonui harbour.
However, the brigade was unable to save a fourth yacht which is on the rocks in Mill Bay and appears to be a write-off.
