A group of outrigger canoeists are thankful for the quick thinking of a Tauranga fishing charter whose crew rescued the team when their canoes became swamped in Tauranga Harbour.

Hoe Aroha Whanau o Mauao were nearing the end of their Thursday evening training session when the two crews got swamped by the incoming tide at the harbour entrance about 7.30pm.

Hoe Aroha Whanau o Mauao outrigger canoeists in action on Tauranga Harbour. Photo: File.

Deep Star Fishing Charters owner Garth Le Lievre says the charter was headed for Mayor Island when they came across the two boats in need of some assistance.

All canoe crew members were seen to be wearing life jackets, says Garth.

'It was just an outgoing tide in fading light and they got swamped,” says Garth.

'They didn't seem to be struggling, but put it this way if someone hadn't come across them they might have been in a bit more trouble.”

After putting in a call to coastguard as back up, the charter towed the first canoe into Pilot Bay before returning for the second.

Hoe Aroha Whanau o Mauao club captain Howard James says the two crews could have made it to shore with water onboard, but felt it was prudent to get a tow due to the evening conditions.

'We were just doing a training run and the wind picked up and caused a bit of wind against tide and just swamped the vessels,” says Howard.

'They didn't capsize they just got swamped. But in fading light the best thing to do was get a tow.”

He says crew members wear life jackets at all times when on the water and are trained in normal bailing procedures for such events happen.

He is thankful for Deep Star Fishing Charters rapid response.