SPOILED BY STORM.

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 49, Issue 109, 19 February 1929, Page 6

SPOILED BY STORM.

AN OCEAN YACHT RACE. (Special to the "Guardian.") WELLINGTON, Feb. 18. The weather all this summer has been most uncertain. The ocean yacht race on Saturday was a complete failure. Nanette, with a good lead established, broke her mast off Island Bay, and had to return. The other four yachts got across to Port Underwood* but Mana took till daybreak. At 11.30 a.m. on Sunday, Shamrock, Windward and Galatea .started on the return journey. Mana did not leave port. The conditions were not favourable to the three yachts, but they pursued their course, with the exception of Galatea, which found shelter in Tory Channel. The full force of the storm, which had been growing steadily, struck Windward and Shamrock when they were halfway across. Heavy seas swept them and the boats were pitched about uncontrollably. Shamrock, with a crew of six, bore up bravely. Windward, however, was not so fortunate. About two o'clock it was completely disabled when the mast broke, snapping in several places. From the tang"lo 'of wreckage the crew of four looked to Shamrock for assistance. That yacht's crew saw their plight and battled with difficulty across the mile of sea separating the two vessels.. To safely harness Windward with -a tow-rope was not an easy task, and called for no mean skill. Mainly owing to the excellent work of the skipper of Shamrock (Max Talbot) Windward was at length secured, and a start was made for the shelter of Tory Channel.

It was not long before the tow rope, a stout one, two inches thick, snapped with the strain. After great difficulty Windward was made fast again, but on two further occasions in the course of the journey the rope parted. It was three hours and a half alter the first catastrophe to Windward before Tory Channel was reached. Mr Perano, a member of the well* known fishing familv, came out in a launch and piloted the boats to Okukiari Bay, where the crews were hospitably cared for by Mr and Mrs I<. Kenny. _.,.. , The yachtsmen came to Wellington by the Tamahine, leaving their craft across the Strait.