Speedboat Springs Leak On Trip To Akaroa

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30213, 19 August 1963, Page 10

Speedboat Springs Leak On Trip To Akaroa

An attempt by two Christchurch speedboat drivers to go from Sumner to Akaroa on Saturday in an 18ft boat failed when the boat sprang a leak.

The boat, the Champagne, was beached at Laverick’s Bay, nearly half way to Akaroa, after she had been driven across a reef at full throttle. The two men, Mr G. Walker, the owner, and Mr D. Churchill, returned to their homes at 10 p.m. after leaving them at 5.30 a.m.

The Champagne is a cabin cruiser, with clinker-built bottom of kauri planks and plywood sides. She has a top speed of about 45 miles an hour and has been raced successfully at South Island speedboat regattas in the last 18 months. She was built by Mr Walker, a boat builder, of Shortland street.

Mr Churchill, of Travis road, is a hairdresser. Both men are enthusiastic members of the New Brighton Power Boat Club. Mr Churchill owns a speedboat, Rob Lyn. On Saturday, the Champagne was taken to Sumner on a trailer. The boat was equipped with two-way radiotelephone, extra anchors, plenty of food, maps and a compass, and 19 gallons of petrol. Both men wore life jackets. “It was dark when we took Champagne down to Sumner. We hit a terrific bump on the way, near some road works, and almost lost Champagne from the trailer,” Mr Walker said last evening. “I am now certain that the bump caused damage to the hull.” The boat was launched at 7.45 a.m. Out from Sumner there was a long southerly swell and an easterly wind made the water choppy, said Mr Churchill. However, the Champagne rode the sea extremely well and, at half-throttle, was doing 20 miles an hour. “It was very pleasant. The coastline flew past and we passed many bays while we were just settling down and having a smoke,” Mr Walker said.

He noticed water in the bilges and switched on the bilge pump. He and Mr Churchill inspected the boat for signs of a leak, but could see none. Mr Churchill said that the bilge pump got rid of most of the waiter and they went on for about three mlies. Then the water began rising again. "Soon it was four or five inches deep. The flywheel began throwing water around. Shortly water was being thrown up at both ends of the motor, in spite of my furious bailing with a plastic bucket.” Mr Walker was driving when they decided to make for the shore and beach the Champagne. “We knew we were off Laverick’s Bay. We made for the bay and saw a reef. Gus (Mr Walker) gave the Champagne full throttle and she planed on top of the water as we crossed the reef. When we got close in shore

u-us cut cne motor, saio air Churchill. They had been going threequarters of an hour when they decided to make for shore. Mr Churchill said a farmer, his family and men from a homestead near the shore of the bay were most helpful. It was 8.30 am. when they reached the shore. He and Mr Walker took turns In holding the bow of the Champagne towards the waves and in bailing. They were up to their waists in the sea with waves often breaking over their heads until 1 p.m. when a friend, who had been telephoned, brought the boat trailer over from Sumner. “The farmer’s crawler tractor had to be used to tow the boat and trailer out of the sea and up the beach as there was no road. It took two cars, our friend's and a farm hand’s, to tow the boat out of Laverick’s Bay and up to the main road from Le Boris Bay,” Mr Churchill said. Mr Walker said he had examined the Champagne yesterday and found a orack in the bottom of the hull. “I have been giving the Champagne the hammer in races for 18 months and have never had any trouble. It is ironic thait we should have damaged the hull on the road,’’ he commented He said that the crack must have sprung more from the force of the sea, even though the boat was only at halfthrottle. Both Mr Walker and Mr Churchill are determined to try the trip again.