Coroner's Court DROWNED IN WRECK OF YACHT IN HEAVY SEAS

Press, Volume C, Issue 29536, 10 June 1961, Page 15

Coroner's Court DROWNED IN WRECK OF YACHT IN HEAVY SEAS

The result of a yachting tragedy in Lyttelton Harid ur on the evening of March 25 might have been different bad the first rescue launch to go out rarried rocket gear, said the Coroner (Mr E. B. E. Taylor) yesterday, concluding an inquest into the death of Edwin ( harles Powell, aged 57, a Christchurch journalist. He found that Powell died from asphyxia from drowning. Mr R A Young appeared f >r Powell’s relative®, Mr E. P Wills for the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club, and Mr C G. Penhngton for the L'"teltrn Harbour Board, Saying that he hoped some T’ d might come from this "very sad tragedy.” the Coroner suggested that authorities concerned in rescue work in harbours should investigate the ques- •: n of supplying rescue equipment, and the nrocer'lires in notifying police in the event of an alarm 'I feel I should say that all those concerned immediately took all rteps that they felt warranted n trying to carry out the rescue. It is easy to bo wise after the event. However, if this case can b-ing some results I hope it does" the Coroner said. Return From Akaroa William Ross Harrawav. a fisherman, of Akaroa, said he met Powell about two miles inside the Akaroa Heads about 9.30 a.m. He drew a'ongside and Powell said he was returning to Lyttelton. “I told him that as far as I had been there looked to be a moderate sea outside the head’ and he replied that if it did not look too good he would return to Akaroa.” said Hnrraway. Because recent repairs had been made on the engine of the yacht the witness asked bow it was running, and Powell replied: “Like a train.” Questioned by Mr Young. Harraway said Powell knew enough about sailing on his own to have the ability to make a trip from Akaroa to Lyttelton. The launch master of the Nga'iki, John Small Downie. said that on the evening of March 25 the Ngatikj was booked for a moonlight cruise. About three miles and a half down from the inner h-bour, bis assistant. Mrs M Aitken, drew his attention to a light shining against the rocks. “I saw a yacht hard against the rocks.” the witness said. “I cruised to within about one and a half chains of the yacht and called out: 'Are you O.K. in there” and a voice replied: ‘l'm shipw recked ’ This man said he was the only person aboard.” Fresh South-Wester As a fresh south-wester was blowing he was unable to get in closer without risking the safety of his 60 passengers. He shouted out that he w-ould cruise up the inner harbour and get assistance, said Downie. That was at 8.30 pm. He reached Lyttelton about 8 50 p.m., and went to the night watchman's office, but it was locked. He then telephoned the harbour board signal tower ard reported that the yacht was in trouble. He returned to the Ngatiki and the passengers decided to remain on board. He went back to the yacht and kept the spotlight on it until the Wairangi arrived between 9 50 p.m. and 9.55 p.m. “I was surprised at the promptness of the Wairangi’s arrival. I then returned to Lyttelton.” said Downie. After the passengers disembarked he set out again, but at Camp Bay the weather and sea were so bad that he returned to port. The Lyttelton harbourmaster. Alexander Royal Champion, said that about 855 p.m. the signal tower advised him of the yacht’s plight. He immediately called out the pilot cutter Wairangi. About 11.50 p.m. the Wairangi requested rocket gear, and he arranged for the Harbour Board launch Orari to take it. He also advised the police to get the lighthouse keeper at the heads to guidt a shore partydown to the yacht. Launch Master James Cyril Hardwicke, who took out the Wairangi. said the wind was freshening when the Wairangi reached the yacht. He gave instructions for a line to be thrown when he was about 20 yards from the yacht, but it was not held. He then had to steam out again. When he requested rocket gear to be sent the wind had increased to gale force. It was not possible to the Wairangi inshore any closer than previously. The Orari. with rocket equipment arrived alongside about 1 a.m. Captain Barbour then took charge. “Our dinghy was swamped and I ordered it to be cut adrift just before Captain Barbour arrived.” Hardwicke said. •‘I think that it was about 1 a.m.. just before the Orari arrived, when I saw Powell standing on the deck alongs.de the mast The deck was completely awash. When the Orari arrived the yacht had broken up and Powell was in the water among the wreckage. The seas were heavy and the Orari returned to berth.” The search was then called off until daybreak. Asked by the Crown whether it was not usual to carry rocket gear when craft went out to wrecks. Hardwicke said rocket gear was “not always usually kept on board." The Coroner: Might it have been some help that night?— Not in my opinion, no. But did you not call for it

la’er?—Later, as a last resort, yet Steve Ornsby. a deck hand on the Wairangi, said he threw a heaving line to the y&cht. but it landed in the water. He then tried to row to the yacht, but wind and seas caught the dinghy and blew it away from the wreck. John Andrew Barbour, a pilot employed by the Lyttelton Harbour Board, said he took the Orari to sea at 125 a.m. Rocket gear was not brought into operation because of Powell's inability to retrieve the line, he said. Rescue appeared possible only from the shore. A police party went down to the sea cliffs, but could not reach the foreshore. Sergeant J. E. O'Regan, of Lyttelton, said that Champion had told him that when a craft got into difficulties in Lyttelton Harbour it was generally the practice to send the Wairangi immediately without notifying the police. If the craft was in serious trouble then the police were alerted. The first report on Powell's yacht was such that he considered the equipment and craft sent down were sufficient. Cbamoion said that the heaving lines and other light lines aboard the Wairangi could be used more effectively at close quarters that night than a rocket gun. Form Produced Sergeant O'Regan produced a form used by members of the Banks Peninsula Cruising Club to notify the police of their intention of sailing outside the harbour

limits. The form was completed by Powell on March 17 and left by him at the' Metropole Hotel, Akaroa. It indicated his intention to sail from Akaroa to Lyttelton on March 18. The form was handed to the police. Powell made no amendment, nor did he give any indication to the police that he was sailing from Akaroa on March 25. Had he given such an indication Champion would have been on the look-out for ham, and his life might have been saved. To Mr Young Sergeant O’Regan said it was police practice to notify the harbourmaster at the port of destination of a yachtsman who had signed a form, if the weather deteriorated. To Mr Penlington Sergeant O'Regan said Powell's yacht did not sail until a week after he had filled the form. The Akaroa police did not know that he had sailed on the night of March 25. Appreciation Expressed Mr Young said that Mrs Powell and her son and daughter had asked that he convey their deepest appreciation of the efforts of those who had tried to save Powell's life. “They feel that Mr Ormsby risked his own life in a gallant act of bravery in bad weather. They also acknowledged the efforts of the shore parties, which clamber, ed down a steen rock face to the water's edge in darkness.” Mr Young said. *1 have had reports of what you did on teat night from other sources, and offer my congratulattons to you for your rescue attempt,” the Coroner told Ormsby.