Policemen Lose Yacht

Press, Volume CV, Issue 31027, 5 April 1966, Page 14

Policemen Lose Yacht

(A’.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, April 3. A day’s sailing in the Hauraki Gulf had some unfortunate results for three Auckland policemen. They were SeniorSergeant P. J. Gaines and DetectiveSergeant K. J. Balhorn, of Otahuhu, and Detective-Sergeant A. W. Beattie, of Central Division. They went to Crusoe Island, between Motuihe and Waiheke islands, in Mr Gaine’s 16ft yacht, on Saturday to collect mussels. The yacht, named Rebel, dragged its anchor and set

off towards Waiheke Island about a mile away with Messrs Gaines and Balhorn in hot pursuit in a dinghy. “We could not catch her so we beached the dinghy and ran along the cliffs to Church Bay, where the anchor caught

. again,” Mr Gaines said last ! night. I Just before the two ex-1 , hausted officers reached the | yacht the anchor slipped again and the craft was carried on to the rocks where it holed and sank. Back on Crusoe Island, Mr Beattie tied his trousers to the top of a trig station where they were seen from a passing launch. He was taken to Church Bay. The three men were accomi modated for the night by a local farmer, Mr J. Sullivan. Today they patched up the yacht and were towed back to Buckland’s beach. But their story of woe did I not end there. Winding the! yacht on to" a trailer, the ratchet Slipped and the flying handle struck Mr Gaines a glancing blow. He was taken to Green Lane Hospital and received treatment for a suspected cracked finger bone. I