YACHT WRECKED

Hokitika Guardian, 28 December 1933, Page 5

YACHT WRECKED

MEN. SWIM ASMOKE

CREW’S UNPLEASANT ORDEAL.

(Per Press Asiociation-*- Copy liy fit.)

AUCKLAND, December, 27

A narrow escape froin■'drowning was experienced by live members of the cix.’u r of the Auckland-yacht Little J iui, which wits driven, ashore and totally wrecked at' Catherine Bay; Great Barrier Island, \ after being dismasted in the' gale on Christmas Day. Tito crew comprised tlie, owner, E. •J. Alitc'heiisoil; raid 'Si'J.'.Jervis’' H. ;;; New combe, H. Allisou and G. LyHhK-yi lett. All are in their early twenties! ■'if; ilie Little Jim left Port Fitzyoy, at the Great Barrier, shortly before eight o’clock on Christmas morning for the Littl© Barrier.

On account of the strong southwesterly gale and of heavy seas, it was decided to .turn bifek, .and. shortly after the.-mast broke. . The dinghy' fouled the wreckage of. the mast, and was lost. A jury sail was set, and a course was set fof Catherine Bay, about six miles, away. An attempt was.made to reach- the sheltered side of the bay, bpt, When this proved impossible, two anchors wore dropped in an exposed position at about 2 p.m. ;Theso held for about four hours, and when one gavo away, and tho other commenced to drag, it was then Been that nothing could be done to save the boat, and the crew were forced to swim to land, 100 yards away.

The yacht'went, ashore oh the recks shortly afterwards and. the pounding of the seas soon reduced her to a total wreck. The. five . men made a tent from the sal© and camped for the night. ' v

NIGHT SPENT -ON BEACON

DUNEDIN,, December 26

Four men' who left Port Chalmers on Sunday afternoon to return home to Dunedin in a. 30rfoot alunch had an unpleasant . adventure in a bitterly cold southwest storm.,. Tn the channel between Quarantine and Goat Islands tho engirte'failed. ' i Fo"r three hditrs -the crew were-en-gaged in . fending t|ie vessel from the rocks with a boathook, and they finrlv succeeded in - mooting the craft to a beacon , •on which they spent the whole night. . yY 1 . s