AN ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE

Press, Volume LXXVI, Issue 22921, 18 January 1940, Page 2

AN ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE

AMERICAN YACfiT AT AUCKLAND ORDEAL IN WEEK-END STORM ■ (PBESS 4SBOCri.TIOJf TStBORAM.)

AUCKLAND. January, 16.

Disaster almost overtook two American brothers and their 30ft yacht Drifter when it heeled over until its 32ft mast was under water some distance off Cape Brett at the height of the storm on Sunday morning. This was the alarming climax to an anxious night, during which the yacht was at the complete mercy of mountainous seas and a 70-mile-an-hour gale -for seven hours.

This experience was told by the owners of the yacht, Robert Westrem, aged 26, and John Westrem, aged 19, of Los Angeles, when they reached Auckland last night.on a further stage of a world cruise. They joked'about it as they moored their snug little craft, but admitted that they thought their.last moment had come and they would never see land again.

"We' had no idea it could blow so hard," they said. "We had no forewarning. The barometer dropped suddenly, and the wind came away with, a roar: The jib blew out, "and with three reefs in it, the mainsail threatened to be tattered, so we lashed everything down. Engine Useless "Our sea anchor failed, arid the engine Was useless in such a sea, so we went below. We thought every huge green wave would be the last, and prayed that none would break "At last it came, when the boat was already half-submerged with a foot of water inside. Both of us were lying on -the weather bunk, hoping to save the boat from capsizing. "The next thing we knew we were flung toward the lee wall. As it turned down under us, it seemed as if our keel left the water. The boat ; hovered like this for a few seconds'and then righted herself. That was all. but it was enough. The storm passed off soon afterward." „ , . , Water plunged into the cabin and as they struggled to their feet both, were slightly injured. The brothers first thought was to man the bilge pump in the cabin. Drifter was making for Auckland from Suva. The voyage lasted 17 days. For four days before the gale, the boat was becalmed, and the Westrems were unable to take sights. By dead reckoning they estimated they were 10 to 12 miles off Cape Brett. . Their greatest fear when the wind i hit them was that they would be driven ashore, but when it abated ana switched to the opposite quarter, carrying them offshore, they observed Cape Brett light miles distant, and they set their course for Auckland.