OVERDUE YACHT.

Press, Volume LXVII, Issue 20181, 9 March 1931, Page 10

OVERDUE YACHT.

WINDWARD MYSTERY. HOPE NOT ABANPONEP. [THE PSES3 3S<ICW ««nric>.] S WELLINGTON, March 8. In the following the Rev. W. S. Boilings, father of the skipper of the missing yacht Windward, sets out a number of facts regarding the boat, gathered from the official -records of the Post and Telegraph Department and the Marine Department, and from other reliable sources:— The members of the crew arrived at the Chatham Islands in good'health and in great spirits." For twelve during a southerly gale they wera heveto, and went below and slept; They made the island on a true course. The wireless receiving set installed before leaving Wellington functioned perfectly; the receiver and batteries on arrival were pronounced Q«H, by the men of the wireless station. They received New Zealand stations whole way across, 'aridtook beftrings from Chatham Island radio station on the day of arrival. The receiver wai. not used for broadcast reception, as the batteries were being reserved for use with the radio direction Under. They said they could not convert the receiver into a transmitter, and had absolutely no knowledge of such procedure, . and did not consider it would be necepary. " They considered they might be two or three weeks on the Teturn journey owttg to having to taok against contrary winds, but had no doubt whatever regarding their safe arrival back in New Zealand. They were warmly welcomed by theislanders, and walked right into their hearts; and a letter from the skipper speaks with great appreciation of the royal way they were entertained during their stay and of tho many friends they made. . ■ Well Provisioned. _ They re-provisioned before leaving, and told the radio men they had enough food for substantial meals fora month, and theft could ration for some time. One of the wireless operators gives it as hi»- opinion that they had sufficient food for two andva half months. They carried-a rifle and cartridges, and also fishing taekle, and could add by such means to their food supjpljep. They had 40 gallons of water when leaving Wellington, and used only six on their seven days' trip to the island. These facts show there was little danger of their famishing even were they afloat and drifting for two or morfc months.. On January 6th at 11.30 a.m. they received a apeaial weather report from the Meteorological O®ce at' Wellington which was favourable. This determined their departure. They left that evening at 5 o'clock, and' had 4 great send-gff from, the idsmlew witfc cheers and the firing of guns. They were in perfect health and good spirits, and their boat was in perfect condition. They cleared j %> island ©n ft short tack,: The skipper'. ! told the A sahpolmaster, Mr Jack Cooke, that lie-intended^Tearing to the south, expecting to pick up a southerly and cbme up with in into New Zealand waters,, and so make Wellington. For several days after they left on the return trip the weather sin the Chatham Islands part of the -ocean was good. ' The Winds, though contrary, from north-west to west, were . light, and the se» wm calm to moderate, and would give yachtsmen m trouble. ' - Mystery up to the present shrouds their movements sutoty .The Meteorological records show that January the windiest month ever recorded in Wellington, Northwesterly : ' Triad?, .several times reaching gale forqe, were almost continuous. And, the contrary winds and heavy seas dwwsg time wotild challenge tp the utmost the ae»worthiness of little craft, aid the skill and courage ana* endurance of her crew. Had tbey experienced the average January weather. with; only two gales, they doubtless would have made port, safely. Jf they have, gone down it must 1 he reckoned „ among the misadventures whloh overtake eouragtous, spirits through' abnormal vagaries , ofthp " weather, pijch', as. caused, the disaster in January of last year the TasmanQlacier, when through * blimr& » guide, an# foptr ,Jady tourists, lost, tl»eir„ lives. f \ ■1 - ■ Many of the Chatham Islanders clings to the belief that they ere it»U. and that, probably flismasted,thsy have besn driven south, and have made one of*the islands. s ' ( ' ( V'