At Sea In Bath; Lifeboat Called

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30428, 30 April 1964, Page 1

At Sea In Bath; Lifeboat Called

The m.v. Hohepa, a bath capsized yesterday on her sea trials at Scarborough. The Hohepa was lifted by her bows in a nor’west chop and came to rest keel uppermost. The crew of two University of Canterbury students clung to their craft as she drifted on to the rocks about 200 yards short of Scarborough Head.

The students, Barry Pickering and Dick Wright, aged 19 and 20, were rescued by the Sumner lifeboat about 2 p.m.

Last evening, the coxswain of the lifeboat, Mr H. J. Kerr, was lowered on a rope down the 200-foot cliff to the rocks. He made fast the 40 horsepower outboard engine of the Hohepa, and it was hauled half-way up the cliff. The students hauled Mr Kerr to the top, and the salvaging of the engine will be completed at first light today. Mr Kerr, if the chop has gone today, will tow the bathtub off the rocks with a dinghy. The students, undeterred by the disastrous sea trials, will try to get the m.v. Hohepa repaired in time to get it to Wellington by the steamer express for the proposed crossing of Cook Strait from Wellington to Port Underwood. “Learnt a Lot” “We learnt a lot on our sea trials. It is apparent that we will need a crew of three on the attempt to cross the strait. This should keep the bow down. We also know that we have to keep the bow to the waves.” Mr Pickering said last evening. “We learned a lesson in seamanship. We capsized after going only about 75 yards. There was a heavy surface chop—about the worst conditions the Hohepa could face —and we chose to put to sea because of this. “We weren’t in any danger. We could have swum a few yards to the breakwater, but clung to the Hohepa as she drifted about 400 yards out to sea and on to the rocks because we wanted to look after the motor, lent to us for the fund-raising effort” Strait Crossing

The projected Cook Strait crossing by bathtub is part

of the University of Canterbury capping appeal, which will aid the Hohepa Homes for intellectually handicapped children.

“We hope to get the Hohepa up to Wellington on Thursday night, but it may be on Friday night. We won’t set out if the sea is choppy—but she should ride the rollers well when we have made adjustments to the four-drum outrigger,” Mr Pickering said. “We will have a launch to accompany us, and will be wearing lifejackets. We will be in no danger and really feel we have a very good chance of getting across the strait.” No Mayoral Message The Mayor of Wellington (Mr F. J. Kitts) has refused to send a letter of greetings to the Mayor of Christchurch (Mr G. Manning) by the Hohepa, according to a Press Association message. A Mayor’s office spokesman said Mr Kitts had “sent a telegram to the Christchurch people after consulting with the Harbour Board and Marine Department who were both against the venture, saying he regretted he could not support it.” “Good Chance” “I consider that the bathtub has a good chance of crossing the strait —the 44gallon drums would give better stability if they were further from the tub. She should ride the roller easily,” Mr Kerr said last night. The lifeboat, with a choppy sea and a set towards the rocks, made three sweeps before picking up the two students. They swam out about 20 yards from the rocks and were hauled aboard the lifeboat.

“They were in no danger, but glad to see us. It would take a mountaineer to climb the cliff above the rocks,” a lifeboat crew member said.