"Be bloody careful.''
That was the word from Queenstown Lakes District Council harbourmaster Marty Black yesterday after two boating accidents on Lake Wanaka led to three people requiring hospital treatment.
Mr Black estimated as many as 2000 boats of all types were out on the water yesterday.
''I've never seen it so busy,'' he said.
In the first incident, about 12.30pm, at Paddock Bay west of Glendhu Bay, two people were injured when a rubber tube being towed by a boat collided with a stationary boat on the beach.
Mr Black said both the casualties were riding on the tube and suffered moderately serious injuries.
A man in his 20s was reported to have back and abdominal injuries, and a woman in her 20s was reported to have head, arm and leg injuries.
They were treated by Wanaka St John and airlifted to Lakes District Hospital by helicopter.
Mr Black said the experienced driver of the boat had ''just misjudged it''.
He understood those on the tube were members of the man's family.
The collision was a reminder to all boaties to ''keep a careful lookout at all times'', Mr Black said.
He understood there were more than 2000 campers at Glendhu Bay and perhaps 1000 boats.
While Glendhu was the ''key area'' for boating on Lake Wanaka, Mr Black said another 300 boat trailers were parked at Eely Point yesterday and 60-80 boats were in Roys Bay.
''On a day like today, you are probably up to the thick end of 2000 boats on Wanaka.
''It's up there, whereas Wakatipu is not near as busy.''
The second incident, at just before 3.30pm, occurred at the boat ramp at Waterfall Creek, when a boat was being loaded on to a trailer.
Mr Black said a wave lifted the boat and pushed it forward, and a woman standing at the front of the vessel received facial and other injuries.
St John communications adviser Ian Henderson said the woman, in her early 50s, had moderate head injuries after being ''crushed between a boat and a trailer'' while the boat was being loaded on to the trailer.
The woman was taken to the Wanaka Lakes Health Centre by ambulance.
Mr Black said it was a ''freak'' accident, but both incidents underscored the need to always be ''very vigilant'' around boats.
Firefighters were called to a jet boat on fire at Lake Hawea Holiday Park at 7.20pm yesterday. Lake Hawea Fire Brigade station officer Nick Davis said some petrol ignited when the boat owners were doing mechanical repair work.
The owners had put out the blaze with a fire extinguisher before the brigade arrived.
The boat had ''superficial'' damage, he said.
