SEARCH FOR KETCH

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30286, 12 November 1963, Page 14

SEARCH FOR KETCH

Planes Out All Night (N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, November 11. Three aircraft of the Royal New Zealand Air Force are continuing the search for the missing Auckland ketch, Blue Peter, tonight. The 28-foot ketch is overdue on a voyage from Gisborne to Auckland. Late today, requests to the crew to light flares if they heard aircraft were broadcast at hourly intervals over national radio links after it was learned there was a transistor radio in the boat. The search director, Mr T. W. Keals-Smith, said the planes would probably be out most of the night in an effort to sight distress flares. The Blue Peter, which is painted white with blue sails and an inboard rig, left Gisborne on November 3. She was being sailed to Auckland for a new owner by Mr A. E. Elliott, of Renata crescent, Te Atatu, Mr J. Potter, Williamson avenue, Grey Lynn, and Mr M. J. White, of Kohimarama road, Auckland. The ketch left Port Chalmers on October 26. The Air-Sea Rescue Organisation took over control of the search this morning. Ships using the east coast shipping lanes have been asked to keep a look-out for the ketch. Farmers and members of the Air-Sea Rescue Organisation scanned the coast from Coromandel to East Cape from the early hours.

Many craft were reported to search headquarters at Auckland. These turned out to be trawlers or holiday craft. A boat thought to be the missing ketch was reported at Waiohou Bay.' near Cape Runaway, on Sunday night, but it proved to be a holiday launch.