LIVELY DAY

Sun (Auckland), Volume I, Issue 207, 21 November 1927, Page 14

LIVELY DAY

YACHTING ACCIDENTS SEVERAL BOATS DISABLED A UCKLAND yachtsmen experienced a procession of accidents during the opening outings on Saturday. Three boats capsized and several others were partly or completely disabled. No personal injury was suffered by any of the crews, but several enjoyed unexpected dips in the harbour. The series of mishaps which gave the day the spice of adventure, began before the start of the race for big heelers. Here Wanderer, under very little sail, split her mast below the crosstrees, and had to return to her moorings. DELPHINE OVERTURNED The 26-foot centreboard boats were just getting away when the small Takapuna craft Delphine, manned by Rogers brothers, fouled the much larger Waitere 11. Catching the Delphine’s mast with her boom, the Waitere 11. turned the "flattie” over in short order, and was for some time tangled up with the broken gear of the derelict. The crew of the Delphine was picked up by another boat, and their ship was towed ashore. The bow splashboard was broken, and the mast broken in two places. Just after the start of the same race Spray, leading the field, lost her masthead, and had to be towed back by a launch. In the race for 18ft patikis Alanene capsized in mid-harbour between Resolution and Sandspit buoys. Assistance was given by the scow Miro, and a launch took the crew back to Devonport. Aratu, a 16-footer, also overturned, and Surprise lost her rudder-gudgeon, and drifted helplessly against the eastern tide-deflector, which knocked a hole in her. Rex broke her mast. THELMA BREAKS GAFF The big yachts, racing to Islington Bay, w’ere not immune. Off North Head Thelma broke her gaff, and Rangi (B class) blew out her main sail. Nga Toa was gybing at North Head when a rope caught one s of her crew, Air. J. Inkster, and threw him overboard. The yacht was brought round quickly, and Mr. Inkster was hoisted aboard, none the worse. Shortly afterwards the Nga Toa split her mainsail, but carried on and finished the course.