BATTLE WITH SEAS

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 22, 27 January 1938, Page 10

BATTLE WITH SEAS

YACHT WAYFARER

PUTS BACK TOPORT

CREW'S ORDEAL

, (By Telegraph—Press Asbociatloa.) AUCKLAND, January 26. With h.er rudder gea© damaged and a large skylight smashed in, the 36-foot cutter .Wayfarer, one of the two competitors in the ocean yacht race to Hobart' for ' the trans-Tasman Cup, limped into Whangaroa Harbour at about 1 p.m. today after being pounded by terrific seas in the vicinity of Cape Maria van Diemen. For three days the prew of six had suffered a nerve-rack- 1 ing ordeal, as they-fought their wayj back to land from 120 miles south-' west of the cape and then battled to keep their craft off Columbia Reef, near Cape^Reinga.

Although knocks and blows were " taken a-plenty in tossing seas, none li of the crew was badly injured. They suffered from lack of sleep, however, for. constant attention had Ho be given to the crippled vessel. Watches were brief and' often, and even if they had turned in it would have been impos- , sible ,to sleep in the tumbling, soaking bunks. Much'of their foocJ was spoiled, \ and they lived on bread and butter and tinned food with nothing hot for .several days. All six of the crew are Auckland men. Acting as skipper was ' Mr.. K. Reid, Otahuhu, who, with his brother, Mr. ■G. Reid, of. the same address, is owner of the Wayfarer. Others on board were: Messrs. A. H.1 Milburn, Devonport,' S. Winterburne,' Otahuhu, C. Fr Johnson,* Otahuhu, aiid I H. Reid.

•", AURORA STAR DRAWS AWAY. Calm weatherV was experienced by r the v Wayfarer for the first four days 1 out of Auckland, which she left on the evening of January 18. The Wayfarer stood well out from land while her rival; the 41ft staysail schooner Aurora Star, hugged- the shore. Both yachts held together until last Friday. When off Great Exhibition Bay the Aurora Star, went ahear1 and was lost to sight. I ' The- Wayfarer rounded North Cape and Cape Maria Van Diemen next day, but: was 'becalmed off: Pandora Bank and the anchor was dropped. ■ On Sunday- morning, however, a light north-easterly sprang up, and the craft made out ■to the open sea. Ominous signs of heavy weather to come were provided by a rapidly-fall-ing barpmeter, and on Sunday after- > noon the forebodings were realised when the wind suddenly veered round to the south and blew with gale force. Two reefs-were, taken in the storm staysail and Ihree in the mainsail, and the yacht was hove-to. Pi«?h seas were running and a certain ount of water was shipped, but the uraft be- . i hayed magnificently. \ Then, however, misfortune occurred. In the pounding seas the rudder gear was damaged, and, .although it was not completely out of action, the rudder, failed to respond accurately to the wheel. To go on was useless, and the' boat was turned about and started on | the .gruelling 120-mile journey back to land.

Little progress had been made when a:'heavy sea crashed in the large skylight above the main cabin and drenched everything inside. The open-' ing was quickly baulked, however, before further seas came on board. Pandora' Bank was reached again at about 2 p.m. on Monday, and then the Wayfarer battled through mountainous seas around Cape Maria van Diemen and across to Cape Reinga. It was while they were struggling to reach the' latter promontory that the worst episode of all was experienced. Seas that almost dwarfed those they had already encountered threatened to .wash' them on to Columbia Reef. Sometimes waves 30ft high crashed down on the yacht. Sometimes they carried the craft high • on their •crests, only lo dash her "down into deep, churning troughs. The next moment the water flooded' into the cabins and the men worked hard at the pump. They were tired and soaked to the skin, and they were in need of -warm food and drink, but it was impossible to let up, even for a moment. •Half an hour's terrific fighting against the" seas and the yacht was brought clear of the threatening reef. • Then the fury of the storm died as swiftly, as it had arisen. The wind fell - and the sea became calmer. The Wayfarer made good progress around North Cape and headed for'Whangaroa. She was becalmed on Tuesday, but got under way,again in the evening and anchored inside Stephenson Island, off Whahgaroa. That evening, for the first time in many hours, the crew was able to get much-neededTffiti They resumed ' their course this morning and reached Wharigaroa early in the afternoon.