Sea rescue saved Blues' blushes
The Blues' Super Rugby pre-season training almost ended in disaster on Friday, when close to 30 players had to be fished out of the water by sea rescue.
This happened when a training session in the Hauraki Gulf went wrong, with two waka swamped by waves during a paddle from Takapuna Beach to Rangitoto Island.
The team had been planning to paddle nearly five kilometres across to Rangitoto in the Hauraki Gulf then run to the summit, but the training exercise was cut short.
The team tweeted about the embarrassing outcome of the pre-season trip – which, though unpleasant, did not cause any major problems.
Coach John Kirwan also issued a statement to the New Zealand media, confirming that all team members had escaped unharmed following the scare.
He said the team's safety boat and a nearby yacht helped rescue the players, before the coastguard and police boats moved in to help.
"The Blues team undertook a fitness event with a waka-ama paddle to Rangitoto and a planned run to the top and then return," Kirwan said 
in the statement.
"This was managed by experienced waka-ama personnel who briefed the players who had previous experience with the craft in their recent training camp in Northland.
"Two of the waka took on water – and the safety procedures were put in place. The safety support boat moved in and craft from a yachting event nearby were asked to assist getting players to shore.
"Coastguard and the police boat then arrived to assist.
"At no stage were any of the players were in any danger and thanked those who assisted."
Coastguard spokeswoman Georgie Smith described the incident as a "mass rescue", saying more than 30 people had been plucked from the water.
"We were advised by a phone informant that people were in the water halfway between Takapuna and Rangitoto," she said.
"Coastguard pulled people from the water and delivered them at the beach. Everyone is accounted for and safe and dry on shore."
She didn't know how the capsize happened.
Sources: NZ Newswire and Fairfax media
The team's Rangitoto paddle & run ended up with three submerged Waka & an immediate response from nearby craft. Everybody is safe…
— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) January 9, 2015
… & the team are in high spirits. Procedures were put in place to look after the team, special thanks to Harbourmaster, the police…
— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) January 9, 2015
…& coastguard for their assistance & for responding so promptly & efficiently!
— The Blues (@BluesRugbyTeam) January 9, 2015
