A local dive boat rescued a local fishing boat, broken adrift from its anchor about a mile west of Coney Island, during last night's downpour.

Stretch, a 31-foot fishing boat, attempted to call in to Harbour Radio last evening after the incident but his communication was hampered by low battery power.

A Harbour Radio spokesman said he received the call at 8.22 p.m. and that the owner said he couldn't restart the engine.

"I put out an emergency radio broadcast and a local dive boat, Tenacity, who was in the vicinity, proceeded to assist."

He said that due to the distressed boat's battery failure causing poor lighting, as well as the weather conditions, it was difficult for Tenacity to locate Stretch so the fishing boat launched a flare which made the dive boat able to locate it.

It was towed into Grotto Bay an hour later.