Marine search and rescue (MSAR) teams carried out fewer missions around Dunedin last year, but spent more time doing them.
Dunedin teams assisted with 53 search and rescue operations in the area in the 2009-10 year, compared with 66 in the 2008-09 year.
They spent about 150 hours searching and rescuing - compared with 141 hours the previous year - rescued 17 people and recovered three bodies.
Thirty-two people, including 10 sailors from the capsized racing trimaran Groupama 3, were rescued the previous year.
The water rescue squad was involved in 10 search and rescue missions, and surf lifesaving teams were involved in 12 searches.
Most of the SAR operations were in Otago Harbour, followed by city beaches.
Eight of the missions took longer than two hours, although only two missions the year before had taken longer than two hours.
In the group's 2010 annual report, immediate past MSAR chairman Martin Balch said while it was sad there had been some deaths in the area, there had been some great saves, too. Puddingstone Rock, Cape Saunders, had been the scene of both a sad loss and a "miraculous" rescue.
A local rock fisherman had been "just so lucky" local fisherman Paul Simon was passing on his way to Bluff and was able to save the man after he was swept off the rocks.
However, the incident had highlighted the difficulties of landing injured people from small boats at the Wellers Rock jetty (where the injured man was transferred to a faster Coastguard boat).
The Wellers jetty had high sides and boats should stop instead at Back beach, Port Chalmers, if a patient transfer had to be made, Mr Balch said.
It was also pleasing to see the development of the 18-member Taieri Mouth first response group, and that "young blood" was coming through the SAR ranks, Mr Balch said.
Police SAR co-ordinator for Dunedin, Senior Sergeant Brian Benn, was named incoming MSAR chairman.
