WOMAN LOST OVERBOARD

Chronicle (Levin), 23 December 1946, Page 7

WOMAN LOST OVERBOARD

Press Association

TRAGEDY IN YACHT RACE

By Telearavh —

WELLINGTON, Dec. 22. While engaged in un ocean race from Wellington to Picton the yacht Yvonne met with disaster at 2.30 this morning when Miss Aubin Ahier, of 314 Oriental Parade, Wellington, a passenger, and the mainsml were lost overboard. This information was conveyed to Flying Control of the Royal New Zealahd Air Force sliortly after 11 o'cloek this uiorning in a telephone message from a Mr. Morgan who requested that an air scarcli be conducted. The request was immediately complied with and a Harvard machiiie took off from Rongotai at 11.58 and landed back at its base at 2.32 p.m. An Oxford maehine also took off from Woodbourne air station at 12.55 p.m. and landed back at its base at 2.34 p.m. "Both machines met with negative results. The pilots reported that the sea was very rough, making a searcli verv ditlicult. At 2.40 p.m. it was docided to caucel all air searches for the missiug woman. Two whale-chasers belonging to Perano Brothers also took part in the searcli. Miss Aliier was a ward O.B.E. specialist who had been in busiifbss in Wellington for some time. She was fond of yachting and recently made a trip from Wellington Picton in the Yvonne. He*r mother resides at Helensville. Word has been received by the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club that the Yvonne was sheltering safely at Port Underwood. Lt was reported tonight that tlie Yvonne gybed unexpectedly and brolce her boom and the bilge pumps became. blocked allowing a lot of water to come aboard. That the yachts must have run into rougli weather shortly after leaving Wellington on Saturday night . was proved by the fact that Warren Patterson, a member of the. erew, was swept oll the Kestrel just as a yacht imerged into (Jook Strait. He was extremely fortunate in being picked up by the yacht Talva and conveyed safely to Picton. The Kestrel was towed into Wellington harbour about 12. 3U p.m. toduv by the trawler Futurist. The Waikereru, sailed by R. A. EJbott, won all three evcnts in the ocean yacht race from Wellington to Picton wliich started 011 Saturday night. The Waikarere carried off the combined race, the Seabird Cup race and the ocean race. The winner left Wellington at 11.30 p.m. on Saturday night and arrived at Picton at 11.37 a.in. taking 12 liours 7 minutes 22 seconds l'or the (i(j iniles' trip.