YACHT WRECKED

Wairarapa Times-Age, 15 January 1940, Page 6

YACHT WRECKED

DRIVEN ASHORE IN GALE AT WAIHEKE ISLAND. THREE MEN & GIRL IN DANGER. (By Telegraph—Press Asociation.) AUCKLAND. This Day. Three young men and a girl narrowly escaped with their lives when the 22-foot E class keeler Sinbad was driven ashore in a north-easterly gale at Matiatia, Waiheke Island, early yesterday morning. They were G. T. McCarthy (skipper), Miss L. Davidson, her brother, S. L. Davidson and W. M. Mullins, all of Auckland. They reached Matiatia on Friday, after a cruise to Tauranga. Late on Saturday night the yacht became entangled with two launches. One got free but the other dragged the yacht across the bay. The Sinbad’s bowsprit was broken and the vessel was hurled high on the rocks. McCarthy and Mullins were thrown into the sea. The former was washed on the rocks. Miss Davidnon was thrown overboard, but grabtied a rope. Her brother jumped overboard to save her. but a wave wrenched her away from him and she was hurled on the rocks. Eventually the four were reunited. There followed a nightmare journey for help by Davidson and Mullins who, half naked, walked and crawled to the house of D. Croll. A party returned and recovered the others.

Yesterday a launch attempted to tow the yacht off the rocks, but the Sinbad sank in the middle of the bay. Mr Mullins was taken to hospital in Auckland. His condition is improved today. Mr McCarthy also received medical attention.