Man rescued, catamaran lost in NZ due to Cyclone Gabrielle

[RaymondR]

Flooding rivers are easy to cope with if you find a spot just downstream of, and inside, the bend and tie a long line to a tree. You can then use the rudder to maintain a distance off the bank and the trees and logs will tend to go around the outside of the bend.

[Kastaway]

Port Fitz where he was is a really good bolt hole. A couple of bays with sunken deadheads to catch out the unsuspecting but pretty protected from most winds. Unfortunately the cyclone changed course running closer to the Barrier than Auckland. Inland about Auckland is a tad on the skinny side, you can walk from coast to coast in a couple of hours, in the US I believe it takes a little longer. Maybe google earth it or YouTube Smokehouse bay to get an idea of the landscape.