Fishermen Steven “Captain Moko” Kavana and Peter Brothers Jnr returned to Rarotonga safe and sound on Wednesday night, bringing a sense of relief to their friends and family, and the search and rescue team that was activated to locate them.

On Tuesday morning around 10am, Kavana and Brothers left Avana Harbour in Ngatangiia bound for Aitutaki to deliver the eight-metre vessel they were piloting.

However, when they failed to arrive or communicate the following day (Wednesday), a search and rescue team was mobilised.

“The sea was calm on Tuesday night and we decided to have a rest and, in the morning, we carried on towards Aitutaki,” Kavana recalled.

But, about 10am on Wednesday, he made the decision to turn the boat around and head back for Rarotonga.

“According to our GPS we were heading straight for Aitutaki but we were going slow. There were no problems with the boat, but I decided to go back…”

Kavana said he should have continued to Aitutaki because their radio communication was unclear, they had no phone reception and he had failed to make communication.

Air Rarotonga spotted the two men 54 kilometres south of Aitutaki on Wednesday at 12.05pm. A second flyover confirmed the men had turned their boat back to Rarotonga.

In the late afternoon, the seabed research vessel Anuanua Moana was deployed to retrieve the men at sea. The Anuanua Moana made contact with the fishermen about 20 to 30 miles out that evening.

According to Kavana, he was surprised to hear there was a search and rescue looking for them.

“They asked if we wanted them to lift the boat, but I said no, we were fine, the boat was slow and we would drive it back. I did ask for some tanks of petrol in case which they gave us,” he said.

Kavana said his good mates, Cameron Thorpe and Takeu “Buckley” Buckley Jnr, were onboard Anuanua.

“Cam and Buck hopped onto our boat and drove us into Avatiu Harbour, we got there about 9pm.”

Kavana would like to thank the Cook Islands Police Service, the search and rescue, and Air Rarotonga for their efforts in looking for and locating them.

The Police Service would like to acknowledge the cooperative efforts of the individuals and agencies who supported the Search and Rescue (SAR). Subsequent arrangements were made with the help of the owners of Anuanua Moana.

The SAR was coordinated by Police in Rarotonga and Aitutaki, with the appreciated assistance of Air Raro, Ministry of Marine Resources, Ministry of Transport, and Nick Henry, the mayor of Aitutaki Island Government. 

“The Ports’ Harbour Master, local fishermen both in Rarotonga and standing by in Aitutaki, and the crew and owners of the vessel Anuanua Moana were all supportive in the success of this operation,” Police spokesperson Trevor Pitt said.