ENGINE BREAKDOWN.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXII, Issue 94, 22 April 1941, Page 3

ENGINE BREAKDOWN.

MOTOR COASTER RONAKI

SLOW PASSAGE UNDER SAIL. (0.C.) NEW PLYMOUTH, this day. With one engine disabled and the other insufficient to drive luV 200 tuns into the teeth of a strong southwesterly wind, the coastal motor vessel Ronaki, commanded by Captain Probert. spent eight hours on Sunday morning battling into safe harbouiage at New Plymouth under canvas. The Ronaki was on her way down the coast en route from Kawliia to the South Island when she had to shelter at New Plymouth. The voyage was normal until the early hours of Sunday morning, when the breakdown occurred. Buffeted by heavyseas, and not easy to hpndle under canvas, the Ronaki was approximately seven miles from New Plymouth at dawn. Not having been built for sailing, though rigged as an auxiliary measure, she made scarcely a mile an hour towards Ne\r Plymouth.

Much greater distance was. however, travelled in other directions. The wind was almost dead ahead, necessitating considerable tacking, and no little display of seamanship. The art of sailing a long leg offshore and a short one inshore called for a nicety of steering and a deal of trimming. If tacking were difficult, the task of bringing the labouring coaster abbut was herculean. The one engine gave but little assistance. The ship's progress into the wind was watched from many vantage points.

At 2 p.m. Captain Probert sounded the breakwater and the crew was able to relax as the Ronaki tied up to her berth. It. is expected that two days will Wo occupied in repairs.

Captain Probert could have turned and run before the wind back to Kawhia or some other northern port, but New Plymouth was handily placed as a port of shelter that could be easily entered.