Missing Launch Towed Into Port

Press, Volume CI, Issue 29952, 13 October 1962, Page 12

Missing Launch Towed Into Port

(New Zealand Press Association)

BLENHEIM, October 12.

After drifting’ for more than 50 miles in Cook Strait with a useless engine and with barely enough sail since Wednesday night, the 23ft Evans Bay launch Perrine, with three men on board, arrived in Port Underwood shortly after 9 o’clock this morning after being towed from off Cape Campbell, some 28 miles to the south.

The launch made contact with the Pio'.on fishing trawler Marion, operated by Mr D. McManaway, off the cape at 9 o’clock last night, and the tow started early this morning. The three men are Raymond George Perkins, aged 30, Peter Ivor Millar, aged 33. and William Remi, aged 37i all employees of the Wellington City Council Transport Department. They had a plentiful supply of paua and crayfish and adequate fresh water. The party left Evans Bay at 7 a.m. on Wednesday for a fishing expedition off the Ka.rori Light, and at 4.30 p.m. decided to head for home.

The magneto of the motor was giving trouble and while repairs were being made the sail was hoisted.

"We were in a fairly stiff northerly and the sea came over the deck on two or three occasions,” said Mr Remi.

“It was a difficult job trying to keep the launch on a straight course; we just seemed to be at the mercy of the sea."

Yesterday Mr Remi managed to get some life out of the engine, but it would only go “in spurts.’’ It was decided to keep it- for emergency use.

They had four gallons of fuel left.

Early last evening they saw a light and decided to make for it and soon found themselves inside the reef off Cape Campbell.

About 9 o'clock they sight-

ed some navigation lights and made for them. "It turned out to be the Marion, and Mr McManaway and his crew really welcomed us on board,” said Mr Remi.

A radio set could have meant the difference between life and death for the crew of the Perrine, said a Marine Department spokesman in Wellington this morning. He was referring to the fact that the launch had carried no radio equipment of any kind. “A radio set costs about £70.” said the spokesman. “We recommend any small boat should be equipped with radio—it is a good investment and the best method of sending distress signal’.

“Unfortunately we can only recommend, we can't push it, and it is a difficult problem."