YACHT MYSTERY

Rotorua Morning Post, Volume 2, Issue 547, 2 June 1933, Page 5

YACHT MYSTERY

(Press Assn.—

MISSING OWNER MAY BE WITH LAUNCH PARTY POLICE INVESTIGATIONS

-By Telegraph — Copyright).

Auckland, Thursday. Although no definite information has yet been received concerning Mr. Harold Edwin Lamont, of Parakakau, wliose 26-f oot keel yacht Cynthia was found ashore at Devonport on Monday, the possibility of his having joined a launch party was reported to the police this morning and is heing investigated. Mr. Lamont is reported to have told a man at the Orakei wharf on Monday evening that he was going to Islington Bay to join a launch party. This statement has been connected with the departure of a Henderson party on a cruise last Monday. The party comprised Messrs. B. Carter, D. Allerley and N. Spencer, and went away in a small cruising launch. On Tuesday last they were at Cowes Bay, Waiheke, and yesterday a telegram was received announcing their arrival at Mercury Bay. Mr. Carter's son is a neighhour of Mr. Lamont, at Parakakau, and Mr. Lamont is acquainted with the men on the launch. The Whitianga police to-day are endeavouring to locate the launch party and ascertain if Mr. Lamont is with them. Movements of Yacht The movements of the yacht have been traced from Waiwera to Orakei wharf, where she was lying all day on Monday. Mr. Lamont was seen by a man who had been fishing on the wharf as late as 5.30 p.m., when Mr. Lamont told him that he was going on board to have a meal and sail to Islington Bay. He would leave the yacht anchored there and join a party of friends who were going North in a launch. It is surmised that after the tide turned to come in about 6 p.m. he hoisted the jib and left the Orakei wharf. The mainsail could be set after clearing the wharf, as the yacht was lying on the weather (western) side, making it awkward to get clea* with the mainsail up, especially with only one on board. It is possible that after sitting the jib, Mr. Lamont. fell overb'oard when attempting to set the mainsail, and that the yacht held her course without a skipper and sailed straig'ht across to Devonport.