BOAT CAPSIZES.

Press, Volume LXIX, Issue 20827, 10 April 1933, Page 8

BOAT CAPSIZES.

THREE PERSONS RESCUED. MISHAP IN LYTTELTON HARBOUR. Clinging to their capsized boat in the middle of Lyttelton harbour, with seas constantly breaking over them, two young men and a girl h:d a trying quarter of an hour late yesterday afternoon, until they were picked up by a launch. The boat was a Takapuna sailing punt, Rascal, and those rescued were Robert Hendry, Horace Hannah, and a fourteen-year-old girl, Peggy Gra-! ham. A strong north-easterly wind had been blowing all the afternoon, and had raised a big sea in the harbour. The party b a d been out in the little boat down the harbour, and were returning to Lyttelton, running before the wind. Between Officer's Point and Diamond Harbour Point the spinnaker skied, and the boat, travelling at a great rate, got out of control, and capsized. Flung into the water, the youths used every endeavour to keep the girl on the upturned hull, but in the rough sea the task was a difficult one. There was no other boat handy, the water was very cold, and there was the risk of some of the party being tangled up in the cordage and sails which were swirling round the boat. The position of the party was becoming serious when they were fortunately sighted from Mr C. Woodward's launch, Minerva, which immediately went to their help. The task of picking them up was not easy, owing to the heavy sea, but was eventually accomplished, and the upturned boat taken in tow. Meanwhile the alarm had been given in Lyttelton by Mr W. Tissiman, sen., who saw the boat immediately before and in the act of capsizing. Mr Tissiman informed Mr George Illingworth, proprietor of the passenger launch Stanley, which immediately set out to the rescue. The Stanley had a heavy head sea to contend with, and arrived to And that the rescue had already been effected. The Stanley took over the towing of the capsized boat, progress being slow owing to the drag of the sails and gear, and arrived back at the boat harbour an hour later. The Minerva left immediately with the youths and girl, who appeared little the worse for their adventure.