ALERT FOR KEELER

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31211, 8 November 1966, Page 1

ALERT FOR KEELER

Aircraft and fishing boats operating between Lyttelton and Picton have been alerted by the police in an effort to find the Irene, a 22ft keeler. She sailed from Lyttelton on October 30. She is carrying an outboard motor. The occupant and owner of the keeler is Gordon Rawlings, aged about 30, of 30 Linwood avenue.

The police believe he intended to sail to Picton. He

left Lyttelton without notifying the harbour authorities.

The Irene called at Port Cooper, Banks Peninsula, the day she left Lyttelton. She arrived at Motunau last Tuesday and was sighted again late on Friday afternoon off the Cape Campbell lighthouse. The boat remained in the area of the lighthouse until Sunday afternoon when Mr Rawlings appeared to be having difficulty with the outboard motor. He left under sail in the direction of Port Underwood at 2.15 p.m.

The Irene has a 6ft Sin beam and draught of 4ft. It is Bermuda rigged and car-

ries about 200 sq ft of sail. It has bulkheads fore and aft. The boat was built about four years ago by Mr D. Kliffen, of 86 Farrington avenue, Christchurch. He sold it to Mr B. Glanville, of 150 Marshland road, and it changed hands again before Mr Rawlings purchased it recently. Mr Glanville yesterday assessed its value'about £350. The Irene has a blue bull with white rubbing strike. The half cabin is also blue. The boat is shown In the foreground of this picture taken recently in Lyttelton harbour