YACHTS IN TROUBLE

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 14, 1 February 1937, Page 8

YACHTS IN TROUBLE

-f'resB Association.)

» 4m > • Stormy Conditions at Auckland WIND WHIPS UP SEA

(By leiegraph-

AUCKLAND, Jan. 29. Stormy harbour conditions, which accompanied a fresh south-easterly breeze, played havoc with pleasure craft that defied the torrential rain of the early morning to take part in ihe Anniversary Day regatta. With the wind whipping up a difficult sea, especially in Rangitoto channel, nearly a score of boats capsized. Cases of dismasting were frequent and several craft suffered extensive damage .to their canvas. A chapter of ineidents kept rescue launches busy throughout the afternoon. When she was standing close to Motuihi the E elass yacht Wakanui, owned by Mr H. Kidd, of the Devbnport Yacht Club, was driven on to the rocks. Tke crew were forced to abandon the vessel and returned to Auck-j land in an excursion boat^ A member of the crew of another boat who saw the wreckei craft later reported that she appeared to be fairly badly holed, A lucky escape from drowning was made by a member of the crew of the V class yacht Decima when the tiller of: the boat was carried . away. He overbalanced and fell into the sea. Has companions were poweriess to assist him and the craft drifted on helplessly1 while he struggled in the heavy sea' that was xunning. The desperate signals of the Decima 's crew were noticed by Mr. J. Frankham, of the M class yacht Manaia, and after a search extending over some minutes he picked up «, man. Although'' suffering severely from exposure, the man speedily recovered. The Y class boat Cupid capsized off ihe sandspit at Devonpor,t and the crew was rescued by a naval pinnace from' H.M.S. Philomel after they had been.! in the water for some minutes. It wasi foundv impossible to take the craft in tow and it drifted ashore off North Head, where it was salvaged by Devonport yaehtmen, the saila being badly torn. A pinnace. from the Philomel alsoj Iwent to the assistance of two L classj boats which overturned in the harbour. One was successfully taken in tow and Was beached at Orakei bnt endeavours to hold the other with a line were in vain and breaking away it eventuallyi grounded at North Head, where thei equipment was salvaged by residents. Later 'in the afternoon the Philomel; received a report that the 22ft. yachtj Melita was ha danger in the vicinity ef North Head. At the time no boat was available bnt a message was transf erred by eignal to H.M.S. Dunedin, which despatched assistance. In meantime, however, the yacht was assisted by a passing launch. The 14ft. yacht Manurewa capsized • |in Shoal Bay during the afternoon, and although the crew was rescued, efforts to tow the craft ashore were fruitless 'and it was T^ported missing to-night. The Z class boat Te Hoa turned over when off Resolntion buoy and was towfed to North Head by a lannch. The sam.6 lannch brought the 14ft. Water Beetle to Devonport after it had cap-. sized off the sandspit. The Drone, a. boat of the V class, overturned inj Ranitoto channel and was beached at Cheltenham. A similar mishap occurred to the Z class boat Tamaki when near Northcote, the craft being later towed, ashore. Three competitors in the Sil-j ver Fern class were overturned duringj . itheir race, whiletanother capsized shortly before starting in the event for S class boats.