YACHTING HOLIDAY ENDS IN TRAGEDY

Chronicle (Levin), 10 January 1948, Page 5

YACHTING HOLIDAY ENDS IN TRAGEDY

AFFKLAXp, Jan. 9. A yachting holiday at Waiheke lslaml ended tragieally today for two Auckland youtlis wlien oue of tlieni was (irow'ned after their crai't had cajisized oll Owhanaka Bay on the northwest tip of the island. The victim was Brace Allen, aged 18, son of 51rs. Daphne Allen, of Epsom. Accompanied by Victor Fields, aged 18, Allen sailed to Oneroa on Boxing

|)ay in their Z class yacht Avon and .■emained there for the holidays. At about 10.80 o'clock this morning they left the anehorage to begin their journey back to Auckland but after they had rounded Oneroa Point, tliey encountered liigh scas whieh opcned up a leak in the craft 's hull. This iiifluciiced them to make immediately for 5Iatialia but when they were about lialf a niile out froin Owluuutke Bay a strong beam wind caused the yacht to eapsize. Hoping that the wind and tide miglit •arry them to shorc, the two boys clung to their craft-for about lialf an hotu out found tlie heavily breaking seas too much for them so tliey deeided to swnii for shore. Both were wearing lite jackets and they set off holding hands land s'wiiiiining "dog jiaddle". Witli 'he journey lialf completed the boys found themselves alinost exhauste'd Imt Fields said he would go on alone to 'etch assistance. He reaehed shore alnost in a state of eollapse but after he 'tad Iu i ii on the beach for about live ninutea to recover, he rau to the police ■Jation at Oneroa. A constable tveiu mmediately to 5Iatiatia wher.e he irganised a search party. Allen 's boa.v ■vas found on the beach. It was placed on a stretcher and carried up a 400-fooi cliff on the journey to Oneroa. It was brought to Auckland tonight.