A decision to take a small inflatable boat out on Tauranga Harbour last night ended in three men needing to be rescued by Coastguard Tauranga.

Emergency services were notified of the developing water rescue in the harbour off The Strand by a member of the public just before 8pm.

Three men being rescued from a boat moored off The Strand. Photos: Daniel Hines.

Police say the men got blown around in the inflatable and ended up being caught up in the tide.

Port of Tauranga reports the peak gust recorded at Crane 3 at the southern end of the Sulphur Point wharf was 40 knots (75 km/h) at about 8pm.

The trio, who were all wearing lifejackets, managed to snag the line of a moored boat and scramble on board.

The men boarded 'Tradition” and waited until they were rescued and brought back to shore by Coastguard's TECT Rescue boat.

Coastguard Tauranga operations manager Simon Barker says the TECT rescue boat was dispatched at the request of police.

'We went out last night and there were a few people heading out in smallish boats. The ones we saw decided to turn around a head back to shore. There were a few people braving the weather.

'The information was definitely on the forecast. People need to check the weather forecast before heading out on the water and pay attention to the forecast.”

Police say none of the men were injured and were lucky nothing more serious eventuated.

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Photo: Tony Breeds.

Police at the scene look out at the inflatable boat.