A CLOSE CALL

Bay of Plenty Beacon, Volume 6, Issue 64, 13 April 1943, Page 5

A CLOSE CALL

SAILING VESSEL OVERTURNS

ACCIDENT NEAR WHALE ISLAND

An accident which might quite easily have resulted l in serious consequences had not help been at hand, near Whale Island last Sunday, when Mr Roy Stewart's 15ft. sailing? vessel capsized l in; a sudd'en slquall and 1 threw three persons Misses June Carey, Pies Bridge* 1 and Mr Ron Adcock, into the sea. Fortunately they were seen by people on the Port Whakatane, which had also niadte the trip to the island and picked! up after little more than ten minutes in the water. The weather at the time was fairly, boisterous, the sudden squalls from the. nor-east whipping the sea into a choppy swell. The party in the sailer had been trying to make for cover in one of the bays at the northern end of the island. In the face of the gusty wind the little vessel was making heavy weather and when a particularly strong blaster struck her, heeled right over. Fortunately all three of the passengers were swimmers and manage ed to strike; clear and then make for the upturned craft to which they clung. The Port Whakatane only a comparatively short distance away had noticed the smaller boat i<n difficulties and it was only a matter of minutes for Captain Carey to bring liis boat alongside and rescue the crew. The upturned vessel was later towexl into Whakatane, where the victims of the accident were returned to their homes: none- the worse for their experience.