HUANUI'S ROUGH VOYAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 49, 27 February 1923, Page 3

HUANUI'S ROUGH VOYAGE.

HEAVY WESTERLIES FROM GISBORNE. VOYAGE TAKES FOCR WEEKS. February has been a bad month for sailing vessels on the East Coast, and it waa unfortunate for the ketch Huamii that she had to measure her strength with ii westerly gale for the greatei part of her trip from Giwborne to Auck land. Leaving Gisborne on January 29th, the Huanui carried a full cargo oi general merchandise. She met with a heavy north-west, wind immediately after clearing port, and for twelve daywas beating about between Gisborne and Ka.it Cape, making little or no progress. Captain T. Stephens, the mastei of the vessel, states that the storm was at its worst on February Bth. On that day he suffered a painful injury to his right hand, having two bones broken while trying to move about the deck. The throat bolt of the mizzen gaff snapped off owing to the heavy gale and to make matters worse the fore-sail blew out. This made it necessary to put back, and it was the Huanui's good fortune on the 9th to be picked up by the steamer Tiroa en route from Auckland to Gisborne, and towed back r>2 mile? to port. She arrived at Gisborne at 2 a.m. on the 10th, repaired the damage about the deck, and borrowed the Fairburn's topsail, leaving again for Auckland at 3 a.m. on the l - 2th. Strong westerlies had been experienced ever since, and on the 20th. while half-way across the Bay of Plenty, between the East Cape and Cape Colville, it was a raging gale. On the 21st, the Huanui was off Cuviet Island, but strong winds made it neces sary to put back to Opito Bay for shelter. While ''.he vessel was there it was blowing hard all tlie time, especially on the' 24th. On the 25th. the voyago to Auckland was resumed, and *,he vessel arrived at mid-day to-day. A general average of 7J per cent hai been declared on the cargo to cover th« i damage to the ship' estimated at about £100. ! =