WITHOUT A RUDDER.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXV, Issue 2057, 18 April 1907, Page 4

WITHOUT A RUDDER.

Captain Bushell, of the scow Ururoa, which arrived in tlie stream at ■Wellington recently, accomplished a clever feat of seamanship in navigating his unwieldy, heavily-laden scow from about BGO miles out at sea safely to port withoue a rudder. The Ururoa left Port Macquarie on March o, with a cargo of hardwood for Wellington. On March 14, when about 700 miles to the westward ol Cape Egmont, the scow was howto in the teeth of a south-easterly gale and a heavy south-easterly sea, which was running against a cross sea. On the afternoon on March 17, while the vessel was still liove-to, an enorm ,us sea struck the boat on the starboard quarter, and carried away the rudder blade. Notwithstanding this predicament, at midnight on March IS Captain Bushell resolved to head for port without a rudder. With i considerable amount of manipulation of the centre boards and sails, the vessel was kept on a more or less erratic course till Friday night, when Farewell Spit was sighted. As the Ururoa was difficult to manage, and a north-easterly was approaching, Captain Bushell headed his vessel to the north-westward. The wind soon attained hurricane force,and the glass went* down to 29.30. On Saturday morning a heavy spa was shipped which nearly settled the Ururoa, and shifted everything movable on deck. On Saturday night the wind went round to the south-west, and in her crippled condition it occupied two hours to turn the vessel round. Finally she got about, and was off Stephen Island on Saturday night, when the wind dropped and the scow took it into her head to steer for Nelson. Despite all the efforts of the crew, the Ururoa refused to alter her course, and it was considered that the vessel would soon be ashore. The position was relieved by the wind freshening a littlo and the ' vessel turned round. The Ururoa then came on to port and was off Wellington Heads at noon on the Sunday.