WAIMAKARIRI MISHAP

Press, Volume XCVII, Issue 28750, 22 November 1958, Page 12

WAIMAKARIRI MISHAP

Yacht Capsizes Near Bar

Two men had a narrow escape from being swept over the bar of the Waimakariri river yesterday afternoon when their yacht cansizod. Thev were resetieri hr

capsized. They were rescued by an outboard motor boat in charge of Mr G. D. McDougall after a man in a rowing boat had tried unsuccessfully to tow the yacht to the bank. The identity of the two yachtsmen was id it ascertained, said Mr McDougall, who is secretary

of the Waimakariri Sailing and Power Boat Club. They were sailing an International 14-foot class craft on the river when it capsized near! the Styx lagoon, on the south! side of the river. ■‘When I first saw them the rowing boat was trying to tow I their boat to the shore. By the time I realised what was happening they wore being taken ■ out to the bar.’’ said Mr Me- 1 Dougall. "‘They were out in the stream of the Waimakariri when they capsized and 1 was fishing! about 150 yards further downstream on the south side.” Instead of using the current, the man in the rowing boat was rowing against it and not making any progress. “He was just about in to the: bank at one stage and I thought ’

he would make it but then he had ito cast off as they got near the (bar.” said Mr McDougall. 1 Mr McDougall went to their j assistance with his 15 h.p. out-board-powered boat and was able to tow the yacht into the shore and bail it out. “It was a bit too close for my comfort. I had my knife read;- to cut the yacht free but we got into the side in time.’* he said. “Although my boat was 15 horsepower it was just making way.’’ The conditions were not good for sailing at the time with an out-going current estimated at • lose Io five knots.