A yacht has grounded at Mount Maunganui.

Police have been called to the end of Tay St, where the yacht, which they said was called Heloise, has beached.

“It does not appear that there is anyone with the vessel,” police said.

Avalee Donovan‑Treehella, an employee at Tay Street Beach Kitchen, ran down to the beach and saw the boat washed ashore.

According to her coworker, half the café went to the beach to look.

The yacht grounded in Mount Maunganui at the end of Tay St. Photo / Supplied

A reporter at the scene said someone from the surf lifesaving club was putting tape around the yacht.

“There are not many people down on the beach. There are a couple of people taking photos, but no one seems to know what has happened.”

Western Bay Surf Lifesaving Search and Rescue member Kent Jarman said the squad was notified about 12.52pm and arrived where the yacht named Heloise had grounded about five minutes later.

Jarman said it appeared that if anyone had been on board when the yacht grounded, they had abandoned it, and there were no signs of people struggling in the water.

He said it was unknown where the vessel had come from and who owned it, and the harbourmaster’s team were making enquiries.

He said it very much looked like people had been living on board the yacht, which may have suffered some damage to its keel.

Jarman said there was about 1.5m swell close to shore (at 1.42pm today) and an estimated 2.2 m swell out to sea, with 24 knot north-easterly winds.

He said the swell would have to drop considerably to enable the yacht to be towed.

According to the Tauranga Bay Surfing Forecast on the MetService, an easterly wind is gusting 35knots with a wave height of 2.9m at times.

The swell height is 2.1m and in an easterly direction.

The beached yacht. Photo / Sandra Conchie

According to the Tauranga Bay Surfing Forecast on the MetService, an easterly wind is gusting 35knots with a wave height of 2.9m at times.

The swell height is 2.1m and in an easterly direction.

Bay of Plenty deputy harbourmaster Daniel Rapson said the Harbourmaster team are onsite and has set the anchor to secure the yacht safely near the high tide mark.

“Efforts to identify and contact the owner are underway, and options for its removal from the current location, once on-water conditions improve, are being considered.”