ACCIDENT ON SUMNER BAR.

Press, Volume LVIII, Issue 17420, 3 April 1922, Page 6

ACCIDENT ON SUMNER BAR.

GOOD WORK BY LIFEBOAT BRIGADE. With the increased interest in aquatic matters since the war, it was expected that the services of the Sumner Volunteer Lifeboat Brigade would be more in demand than ever. During the past six weeks this has liceii very evident, and yesterday morning the members of the brigade not only rescued two men from the breakers on tho bar. but also succeeded, after a long struggle, in salvaging their yacht. Just before eleven o'clock. Messrs 10. and G. Cooper left RedelifTs in their new and as yet unnamed yacht with a view to a trial run towards Port Levy. On the bar they met a moderate break and all went well till a heavier curler struck their craft with great force and caused the tiller to'snap. A succeeding wave overturned the boat and the men were thrown into the surl with nothing by way of a grip but the slot through which tho centre board falls. The accident was noticed from the lifeboat station and a senior officer launched the little dinghy and made towards tho two men who were at. the mercy of a strong ebb title and continuous break. In the meantime the Rescue, with a- double crew, had been advised of the mishap, and from near Shag Rock, with a- good current behind them, and power sufficient to strain at least one oar, the boat made a smart run to tho sceno of the accident.

By this time, owing to the masterly handling of the dinghy, the two yachtsmen had been rescued, while a large crowd at tho pier expressed its appreciation by a good round of applause, The lifeboat safely transhipped the men and shortly afterwards landed them at tho station.

A salvage crew, later, landed on the spit opposite the pier and, wading across the half-covered sands, reached the yacht which by this time, with mast and spars broken, lay overturned in tho shallow water near the New Brighton portion of the beach. The Rescue again pulled over the bar and "stood by" in the event of a successful refloating bein<j effected. Owing to silting by tho sand, this was found impossible and tho lifeboat returned and landed five more men wno went to the assistance of their mates, and after about three hour's work, finally righted the craft and successfully hand-hauled the boat by means of fore and alt lines, round the spot opposite Cave Rock, where the work was completed by towing the little vessel over to tlfl pier.