People leap from burning boat

Two people were forced to leap into the sea from a burning launch off Mayor Island on Monday.
The people onboard were rescued unhurt by a charter boat, Eagle Magic, out of Tauranga and later returned to Whangamata, the Waihi Beach Coastguard say.

Coastguard douse the flames on the Sans Souci.

The boat that caught fire and sank was the 8.5 metre kauri hulled Sans Souci, a former fishing boat converted for private use. She was based out of Whangamata.
The Sans Souci was about four nautical miles west of the Mayor when it caught fire just before midday.
National Rescue Coordination Centre spokeswoman Sophie Hazelhurst says a mayday call was issued on the VHF channel 16 network and any boats in the area were asked to go to their aid.
“We were able to contact a vessel which was nearby and which was able to come and pick up two people who had jumped overboard and were in the water.”
Maritime NZ requested the assistance of the Waihi Beach Volunteer Coastguard. The Sans Souci burned to the water line and sank later.