MISSING YACHT IN PORT

Chronicle (Levin), 24 December 1946, Page 7

MISSING YACHT IN PORT

-Press Association

Bv Telearavh-

CHKIBTOHUKOH, Dec. 23. The Wellington yacht Wylo whieh today was reported missing in the race from Wellington to Picton, is now safely in port at Kaikoura. She arrived tliere shortly after 11 o 'clock tonight in tow of a local launch. All members of the crew are safe and well. The Wylo, in coinpany with other yachts entered for the race, crossed the starting line at Wellington at 10.30 p.m. Saturday. There was a high northwesterly wind and just after she cleared Wellington heads, the Wylo 's mainsail bleiv Out. The Wylo is cutter-rigged and the skipper, Mr. A. Martin, had no choicc but to run before the wind. When the Wylo was well clear of the land, a sea anchor was put out. In the moruing the yacht was not far from Cape Carnp bell. As the wind was still from the nortliwest she continucd to run down the coast under headsails and by uightl'all was off the mouth of the Clarence Kiver. Duriug buuday night the crew saw the lights of Kaikoura but | the wind was by tlien light and variable and they were unable to make theiport of Kaikoura. This morniug the Wahine passed them and in the afteruoon the Kanga tira stopped and asked if the Wylo wanted assistance. The crew als'o sighted many aeroplanes. During the aitemoon oue aircraft reported the Wylo 's position to Kaikoura. The launcli Pakehu, with Mr. W. T. Allan in charge, left Rt -1.30 p.m. to look for the Wylo and about au hour later the planc sighted the Wylo and Pakeha whicli were thcn about four miles apart. The aircraft was able to indicate the Wylo's position to the Pakeha and the \essels ma.de contact at 6.30 p.m. and by 7 p.m. the Wylo was in tow. They were then somc 16 miles northeast of Kaikoura. The two boats arrived in the roadstead oif the wharf shortlv after 0 p.m. and the Wylo was secured to some spare mooririgs. By the time the crew of the Wylo got ashore it was after 11 p.m., roughly 48 hours from the time they had left Wellington. They hope to repair the mainsail and return to Wellington this week. There was plenty of food on board.