TRIP OF THE COMET

Hokitika Guardian, 14 June 1927, Page 2

TRIP OF THE COMET

AN ADVENTUROUS JOURNEY

The cutter Comet which was sold to a Bluff syndicate by the Hokitika owners left Hokitika on the afternoon of May 24th at 4 o’clock. Air X. L. Field of the Railway Hotel who went aboard as an A.B. for the trip reports. :- i AVe left Hokitika at 4 p.m., cleared t bar at 4.46 p.m. ami hoisted sail. , wind north-east, passed Ross o.JO p.m.. % set course AY.SAY. At 8 p.m. wind , south, blowing strong breeze, big sea : engine trouble, one engine only woikiug. 8.30 p.m. shortened sail, >'un- _ ning 9 miles per hour. 10.30 p.tn. ( blowing gale, heavy sea. wind X.A\ . Both engines- stopped; on deck using hand pump ; midnight, raining and blowing a gale. mountainous seas, wind NAY. Got one engine running. 1 everything under water, constantly shipping heavy seas. At 2.30 non. on 26th. wind AY., mountainous seas reached engine room, inteilering with mangetos. Lying vs for repairs 4.30 a.ill. under way again, both engines running well; blowing very hard and big seas, heavy rain: 5.30 n.m., dear weather, still blowing hard, one engine stopping again; 6 a.in.. had travelled 72 miles, then daybreak. Picked up Bruce Bay, 6 miles oil. AH deck fittings knocked about, stove down, water everywhere, nothing to eat yet. 11.30 u.m. still having engine trouble. Course SAY. by S. A\ ind AY., heavy sens, visibility had, Abbey Rocks abeam. 2.30 p.m.. both engines running. Passed Haast River, strong breeze, heavy sea; 3.30 p.m.. passed Ok urn. wind AY. ; 6 p.m.. picked up .1 at kson's Head witAi difficulty and anchored at 7 p.m. in Jackson’s Bay. Replaced stove, all hands looking for . something to eat. Tea on at 8 p.m.. • first feed for 30 hours. Turned in at : 9.30 a.in., all well. On 26th at 3 a.m. up for anchoi watch, heavy nor’ caster blowing into ; Bay; 10 a. in., stil lying there "ith q two anchors out ; 2.30 p.m.. blowing ’ a gale, riding heavily on anchors; 4 3 p.m.. seas breaking forward, springs on anchor chains; 7.30 p.m. tea on. fOn 27th breakfast at 8.30 a.in., wind 1 south, light. Repairing damage all ] day: 9.30 p.m. wind NAY., turned in, j all well. On 28th. breakfast 7 a.m.. "’•ml

j NAY. Repairing big end ot engine; i 2 p.m. wind north, raining heavily . went ashore for water. All damage i now repaired and both engines in : good order. Fishing not successtul. - no catch in famous Jackson’s Bay. I' Turned in at 8.20 p.nt.. all well. On 29th. turned out at 1.45 a.m., 1 mi anchor watch, wind S.E., raining > heavily, very black morning; 7 a.m. ? got under way and left Bay. course i SAY. by S. Cascade Point abeam at i 9. to a.m Set course to Awarita Point. 1 wind east, running 9 miles. . bright s sunshine, sen smooth, A.B. I'ield at 1 wheel. At 2.45 p.m. big sea from i SAY,.: arrived at Milford Sound at ,- 6.30 p.m. after a good run. and after i tea turned in for night. ,• On 30th, left AJilford Sound at : Ba.in., wind east, sea smooth, a magnificent clear view of Alitre Peak and snowcapped coast. Bligh Sound abeam i at 10.30 a.in., with strong easterly breeze. George Sound abeam at noon. J Caswell Sound passed at 2 p.m. Airived at Charles Sound at 3.30 p.m., ’ Started fishing landing blue cod and ‘ tereaki. After supper turned in at 9 p.m. Upwards of 30 to 40 seals were gamboling on the rocks close to the ship, while woodhens were numerous, pigeons and kakas were in abundance on the trees alongside the ship, which was not ten yards from ihe rocky shore. On 31st left Charles Sound at 7a.m., ' Nancy Sound abeam at 8.30 a.m. 1 Weather fine. Thompson Sound pass--1 ed a.) hour later. - ' ' easterly s blowing. At 10.30 Doubtful Sound - abeam.” Passed Dagg’s Sound at 12.30 p m Bvoaksen. Sound abeam at 2.«/) p.m/ Arrived at Dusky Sound at 3 6 p.m. after a fine trip all day. Oil June Ist left Dusky Sound at 7 a.m.. wind east, Tobacco ran out. Arrived at Chalky Sound at H-30 e. a small steamer in sight and set - course for her. Found she was the - s.s. Rita out of Bluff- Received two - plugs of pipe and cigarette tobacco - from her and harmony prevailed again, s Passed Preservation Inlet at 1 P-'«-a and also saw a fishing smack, the only two vessels seen on the journey, hails , furld. using power straight into ‘ wine Solander Islands abeam at 4 p.rv, stores short. Cook made a pndding. Mussel Beach abeam at 6.-m ' p.m. Picked up Central Island light at ” 30. p.m. abeam at 11. 15. P- m - Picked lip Dog Island light at 1 or June 2nd. wind very cold. Bluff Hill a„enin at 2 ,a.m., passed Sterling Point at 3. a.in. and arrived at Bluff "hail „t. 3.30 a.m. Made fast and all hands turned in.