Two people were thrown into the sea when the catamaran they were sailing capsized near Bowentown.

The men were reported to be ok when they were plucked from the sea.

Superbird To Cruz capsized near Bowentown yesterday afternoon. Photo: www.boatdesign.net

Superbird to Cruz was taking part in the annual Auckland to Tauranga yacht race when it flipped yesterday afternoon.

Steve Glover, who was sailing Sabian with his Dad and nine other crew, says another yacht called Rhythm n Blues, commonly known as RNB, was sailing next to it when it happened.

'They took the two people on board. They tipped it over just before the Bowentown entrance.

'The coastguard was called and put a buoy on it and they're going to go out and pick it up today.”

A Coastguard Tauranga spokesperson says as of last night the yacht was drifting towards the coast.

'The harbourmaster has confirmed that it is drifting. There is nothing on record to say as to why or how it happened.

'Last night it was drifting towards the coast, so 298 degrees at 0.3 nautical miles an hour. Whether the tide has pushed it out again, I have heard anything more.”