AN EVENTFUL CRUISE.

Auckland Star, Volume XLII, Issue 137, 10 June 1911, Page 17

AN EVENTFUL CRUISE.

■ m RECTOR'S XACHT IN DIFI3CTJL.TIES. FOUR MEN IN A BOAT. . Stormy adventures with a yacht provided 11 stimulating yarn of the sea in Mr Justice Avory's Court in the Kings Bench, in London, on Thurtsday, April -7. A clergyman, the Rev. Charles Cuthaert Maters, rector of St. James', Colchester, hired to Mr \V. G. Willmot, o£ the l'lovlncial Bank House, Chatham, bis 11-ton yacht Don, for a fortnight, for ten guineas, and he now sued for her return, or, alternatively, for damages for negligence in the management of the yacht, which went on the rocks in St. Margaret's Ray, aud was broken to pieces. The reply was that the loss of the yacht was due to defective gear and defective seamanship on the part of those in charge of the boat. Mr Wiluiot couuterelaimed for loss of personal effects, and cost of stopping leaks. That the yacht was uusenwortby or that the crew were incompetent the rector denied. Ills lordship remarked that he supposed the case was one he could try without nautical assessois. (Laughter.) Mr Merman Craig, M.l\, said the yacht was quite a small one. and only drew <>ft of water. Mr Willmot and his three friends overrode the judgment of the man by whom they should have been guided. A little knowledge was a dangerous thing. They had dabbled a little iv yachting and yacht racing—a dangerous knowledge for the charterers of a small yacht. Their payment was to cover the services ot a competent man named Griggs, and a boy, with the ominous name of Death. The yacht was harboured at Brlghtlingsea. and tr.ero Mr Willmot and his father joined her on the afternoon of August 13. Mr Willmot set sail for Chalham. The tale of the cruise provided the court with abundant merriment. i.r Willmot took charge of the tiller, and star'.ed by nearly fouling a stationary barge. The anchor had to be run out iv "double quick - ' time, and a catastrophe was only just averted. He explaiued that he was not very familiar with the Colue. but that as soon as they got clear of that he would know where he was. Griggs gave him all necessary instructions, hut in spite of that the yacht grounded, and they had to wait for high water to take them off. The Don came off the next morning at high water, and as Mr Willmot. sen., had no further time to spare, the yacht was put nbont and Brightllngsea was reached without further adventure. Then the journey for Chatham was recommenced, Mr Willmot steering most of the way. Nothing more serious occurred than a determined attempt ou the part of Mr Wllmot to run down a barge in the river ! Colne. At Chatham Mr Willmot left the yacht for the night, and early the next morning a start was made for Sheerness. THE TRAGIC NIGHT. The new skipper, who was at the tiller, fouled a buoy, got clear, and fouled the | 1.u0.v again. Then he ran the yacht ashore. She was got off. and his three yachting friends—Messrs Neuke, Mathews, and Page —who had been waiting since the previous eveuiug for the arrival of the lon, then came on hoard. When they had ceased to express their views on the delay of the yacht's arrival, somebody proposed they should go to Dover. Mr Willmot suggested Margate. Griggs, after his previous experiences, thought up river would lie the safest course to set, but he was overruled, aud they set sail for Margate. Mr Neuke then had a turn at tbe tiller, and found trouble on the Spaniards Bank, a grounding likely to cause considerable damage to the yacht. They spent the night at Margate, and at ten o'clock the next morning set sail for Boulogne. At two o'clock they discovered that, as a result of the grounding, the Don was leaking badly, aud there was water in the hold. Back into Ramsgate they went and had the leak repaired. Giiggs then suggested that, as the wind and tide were foul for France, sail should be set for Harwich, but he was overruled, and the Don was headed for Dover in a very fresh wind. They had to return to Hnmsg.ue. Griggs was very sick of no notice having been taken of his suggestions, and. but for the boy. he would, if he could, have left the four amateur yachtsmen where they were. On August 17 a fresh start was made, and at 3.30 a.m. they started with a good head of sail. At 8.30 a.m. they arrived off Deal Pier. Near the South Goodwins the winds were foul, and against the advice of Griggs, the yachtsmen decided to anchor In St. Margaret's Bay. Counsel declared that this was an insane idea, as no seaman would dream of anchoring under a lee shore. The consequence of this manoeuvre was that the Don broke from her anchorage, and was driven on the rocks. When she was got off Giiggs advised that they should patch her up and get back to Kamsgate. Mr Willmot declared that there was "too much fog," and decided to beach her. Next day the wind freshened, and the Don, badly bumped, went to pieces. She was worth £200. but was sold for £13 by the Receiver of Wrecks. The Rev. C. Naters. In cross-examination, said he gave £75 for the Don, and had spent £43 on her. The hearing was adjourned.