The Forster Royal Volunteer Coastal Patrol received a mayday call about 9pm that a boat with four men on board had broken down in the Harrington Inlet.

The 20-foot cruiser had dropped its anchor but strong waves and currents were driving the anchor, and the boat, towards the breakwall.

The coastal patrol vessel, skippered by volunteer Ray Mazurek, attempted to access the boat from the south but was unsuccessful.

The water was safer to the north so the coastal patrol took a wide berth around the break.

The rescue vessel was able to get within 25 feet of the boat but the rough wind and waves made it impossible to throw out a line.

A three and a half metre wave proved catastrophic, washing the coastal patrol vessel sideways and pushing the other boat onto the breakwall.

Police and a group of onlookers had gathered and they were able to assist the passengers in disembarking onto the wall.

As the rescue vessel travelled back out into safer waters, the waves continued to crash against the breakwall, destroying the other boat completely.

Mr Mazurek said the emergency was a “worst case scenario rescue”, with the night and sea conditions working against the coastal patrol’s efforts.

Mr Mazurek has volunteered for the Forster Coastal Patrol for six years. His crew was completed by Rod Woods, Mike Johnson and Greg Long.

Their vessel was the Amanda Lani, a 10.5-metre Steber.

The skipper of the destroyed boat, a 29-year-old Taree man, was charged with a low-range drink driving.