GALE ECHO

Auckland Star, Volume LXXIII, Issue 134, 9 June 1942, Page 2

GALE ECHO

PILE WAVE SCREEN

REPLY TO CRITICISM

"Exaggerated reports have appeared in the Press regarding damage to pleasure craft during the gale on May 15, and criticism has been levelled at the inadequacy of the pile wave screen," states the superintendent of the Auckland Harbour Board, Mr. D. Holderness, in a report submitted"*© a meeting of the board this afternoon. Regarding the four craft which broke or dragged their moorings in the area referred to, the report states that the owner of the Aloma received official notification on November 15, 1940, and again on January 31, 1941, that his moorings were unsafe, and he was advised to provide a new riding chain. The value of this boat, which was completely destroyed, was estimated approximately at £400. The C class yacht Taioma was lying on the moorings of the B class yacht Waione. These moorings were apparently in good order, and had been regularly inspected. Unfortunately, a defective weld in a link of the mooring chain had not been detected and the link opened out so that the vessel drove ashore and was somewhat damaged. An approximate estimate of the value of this vessel was £400.

The E class yacht Tainui had no authority to be in the area, and had no mooring site allotted to her, continued the report. It was presumed that she was lying at anchor and was therefore likely to drag her anchor in the heavy gale which was experienced. She drove ashore and was completely destroyed. An approximate estimate of her value prior to the gale would be £50.

The 28ft E class vessel Not has been moored in the same area for many years prior to the construction of the wave screen and for six years on her present moorings, which have been renewed from time to time. It is presumed that one of the other craft which broke adrift or dragged must have fouled this vessel, which came ashore but was rescued before any damage had been sustained. An approximate estimated value of this yacht is £80.

"Some pleasure craft in other unprotected areas have been damaged or destroyed, but particulars of these are not yet available," states the report. "Two small boats, moored at their own risk off Judge's Bay and outside the protection of the wave screen, were driven ashore and wrecked, and it is understood that several other vessels to the eastward of Bastion Point were driven ashore.

"It is considered that any boats properly moored to moorings laid under the supervision of and approved by" the board's officer-in-charge of moorings, buoys and beacons, would safely ride out in ordinary gales, but such things as defective links in chains, pins coming -out of swivels or shackles, must always be a source of danger in abnormal weather. In this connection the ofhcer-in-charge states that, in no fewer than five cases in the recent past, have pins come out of swivels, and it is. essential, for their own safety, that yachtsmen should frequently inspect their riding chains to see that all pins and shackles are tight and in good order.