A ROUGH TRIP

Ashburton Guardian, Volume 56, Issue 126, 10 March 1936, Page 3

A ROUGH TRIP

AUCKLAND YACHT IN A GALE. HEADS AILS BLOWN TO SHRE3DS. (Per Press Association.) AUCKLAND, March 9. With her two head sail s blown to shreds, and her crew of two cold, and somewhat exha listed after being continually drenched by heavy seas, the Li-class yacht ltangi arrived at Auckland about 3 o’clock this morning from Russell. Engaged to bring the yacht to Auckland, Messrs J. H Whitehead and H. N. Cook, of Russell, set sail shortly before noon on Saturday with a fair wind. The yacht made good time to Cape Brett, but then encountered a heavy and confused sea. The recent easterly gales had caused a big roll, and the strong prevailing southeasterly wind formed a steep and short croai sea. It was while and Rangi was being buffeted by the seas firat the jib sheets carried away, and the sail split down the middle and was blown to ribbons in an instant. The yacht was headed for Wangamumu. and shelter was reached without further incident. The voyage was i resumed on Saturday morning, and thick weather with big seas was again met. Conditions moderated as the yacht made her way down the coast. However, near Kawau Island a black squall struck the yacht and blew out the remaining headsail. Under the mainsail alone, and with landfalls anything but certain in the fitful light afforded when the moon appeared between rifts of dark clouds, the Rangi continued her arduous beat up the gulf. Fortunately the mainsail was particularly strong, made especially for ocean work when the Rangi was a competitor in the trans-Tasman contest some years ago.