Welcome By Navy And Small Craft

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30050, 7 February 1963, Page 16

Welcome By Navy And Small Craft

(New Zealand Press Association)

WAITANGI, Feb. 6. At daybreak this morning the Royal yacht Britannia was in sight of land. A Sunderland flying boat of the R.N.Z.A.F. flew over the yacht at 4 a.m. and constantly circled the yacht and H.M.N.Z.S. Otago as they entered the Bay of Islands. The Britannia approached the entrance to the Russell anchorage soon after 9 am. A small yacht had braved the rolling sea to be the first to welcome her. With the Otago only 400 yards astern, the Britannia entered the bay at seven knots. Scores of deep-sea fishing launches, motor-boats and yachts rocked in the choppy water while their occupants waved to the Britannia. Six Navy launches lined the channel cleared to the anchorage between nearly 200 small craft. The crew of one, small yacht was capsized into the choppy water as they strove to keep abreast of the Britan, nia. Five naval vessels were

fully dressed on the Britannia’s starboard side, their crews lining the decks in immaculate whites. The cruiser, H.M.NZ.S. Royalist sounded a 21-gun salute and the flying boat swooped lower’ in tightening circles as the Britannia swung round to anchor. Within three minutes of anchoring two motor launches and the Royal barge were towered from the gleaming blue yacht. Only a few hundred feet away fast motor boats surged past as people tried to gain an early glimpse of the Queen. Five hundred people cheered the Queen and the Duke as they returned to the Waitangi jetty lined by Scouts and Sea Scouts. As the barge set off again, dozens of barefoot men. women and children rushed into the water trona the rocky teach nearby to wave, cheer and take photographs. The Royal party lunched aboard the Britannia, then went on an informal trip around the Bay of Islands during the afternoon.