STORM-TOSSED

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 263, 30 June 1932, Page 3

STORM-TOSSED

SCHOONER BUFFETED SAILS BLOWN TO RIBBONS IN TERRIFIC SOUTH SEA HURRICANE. MEN LASHED TO WHEEL. WELIilNGTON, Wednesday. We were lucky to get out; of it with our lives," and, judging from what he told a Wellington Post representative, this summing up by Gaptain A. F. C. Wilson of the voyage of the 68ton auxiliary schooner Aratapu from Auckland to Papeete very tersely describes the position. Captain Wilson

ana tne crew. wno sauea wxtn mm have had .an experienee that they are not likely ever to forget. The genial skipper returned to New Zealand by the Maunganui yesterday and gave an interesting account of the little schooner's voyage, which took just over two months. "I noticed in the newspaper files on the Maunganui that we were -reported missing between Rarotonga and Papeete on April 22," said Captain Wilson. "Well, we got to Papeete just two days later." The Aratapu left Auckland on 22nd February. Captain Wilson was engaged to take the vessel to Papeete by Mr. C. N. Mardon, of Auckland. In addition to Captain Wilson there were on board Mr. Mardon, a mate, an engineer, a supercargo, a cook and three deck harids— nine hands all told. The troubles of the crew started when the Aratapu was off the New Zea-. land coast. The auxiliary engine broke down, and, except for a few hours, was useless throughout the trip. Sails Blown to Ribbons. After leaving Auckland head winds were experieneed until March 13. Then the Aratapu ran into a hurrieane. "We were twelve miles from the centre of the hurrieane," said Captain Wilson. "Our sails were blown to ribbons, our main boom broke, and the mainmast was sprung. In addition, damage was done by the heavy seas to the bulwarks. The ship commenced to leak fairly badly and we had to keep the pumps going. We had two oil bags out all the time and two men were lashed to the wheel. For over two hours chain lightning danced about the rigging. We were soaked to the skin— everything in the vessel was wet through. "However," continued Captain Wilson, "we eventually reached Ra-ro-tonga on March 21. Here we had the sails and other damage repaired before setting out for Papeete on March 26. The engineer and cook signed off at Rarotonga and we took on threa native boys. On the run to Papeete we struck further head winds and heavy seas, but conditions, though unpleasant enough at times, were nothing like as had as on the first stage of the voyage. We arrived at Papeete on April 24, having taken a month from Rarotonga." Under Three Flags. The Aratapu was overhauled at Papeette and Captain Wilson said that when he left the vessel was almost yacht-like in appearance. Originally, the Aratapu was on the Suva register. She left Auckland under the Peruvian flag, and in future it is understood she will be flying the French flag. The Aratapu was built at Aratapu, on the Northern Wairoa River, in 1878, and was first rigged as a brigantine, with square yards on the foremast. She was engaged in the coastal timber trade for 44 years, and also made occasional passages to Australia. From about 1900 until well on in the war the Aratapu was owned by the late Mr. William Cook, of Lyttelton, and was engaged in the Kaipara trade. Subsequently there were several changes in ownership. In 1922 the Aratapu was converted into a fore and aft schooner, and fitted with an oil 'engine. Her name was changed to Zita, but later she resumed her original name. The Aratapu was recommissioned last December. She reached Auckland from Waitara in January, and later was sold to be used in the Fiji trade, but tbe project was dropped. She was next bought by Mr. A. •Chang, a Chinese merchant, of Auckland. The Aratapu was registered at Auckland under the Peruvian flag, and, as stated, left in February for Papeete. The hurrieane the Aratapu ran into between Auckland and Rarotonga was the nineteenth experieneed by Captain Wilson, and he said it was the worst of the lot.