By Emma Jolliff
The Outward Bound Trust, which owns the boat that was struck in Picton yesterday, says its boat had stopped and was preparing to raise the sail when a catamaran collided with it, injuring six students.
The last of those students were released from hospital this morning.
Outward Bound says the cutter was struck by a dolphin watch catamaran near Wedge Point in the Marlborough Sounds, 11 people were onboard.
“I was horrified. It's a CEO's worst nightmare to hear that the students have been put at risk,” says Outward Bound chief executive, Trevor Taylor.
The students, from around New Zealand, were on the cutter as part of an eight day course at Anakiwa.
“The students started to wave the oars to try and get the attention of the captain but that was unsuccessful,” says Mr Taylor.
Six people were taken to Wairau Hospital, two were airlifted to Wellington. All have since been discharged.
“You would hope that the rules of the sea would prevent incidents like this,” he says.
The captain of Dolphin Watch Ecotours has been stood down.
“This is the first serious incident we've had with the cutters in close to 50 years,” he says.
Maritime New Zealand is now investigating.
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