Launch Found After Mayday Call

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 8

Launch Found After Mayday Call

C.N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Dec. 28. Five boats, including a coastguard cutter and the police launch Deodar, sped to a point two miles out from Tindalls Beach on the Whangaparoa Peninsula after a Mayday call was received by Auckland Radio at 8 o'clock tonight. The call said that the 23ft cabin craft Gloriana was half full of water and in immediate danger of sinking.

While the search was continuing about 10.15 p.m. two men, thought to be those on board the launch at the time of the Mayday call, rowed ashore close to the search area

The coastguard cutter Jo Anne, in the area when the call arrived, began a search. The Deodar headed for the area from Auckland.

A little after 8.30 p in. the | Jo Anne sighted a flashing i light but after a while the light faded. About 10.20 p.m. the Jo Anne discovered an upturned

launch in the search area, with a hole in the starboard bow.

The men, in an Bft dinghy, reached safety after battling against wind and tide for nearly three hours. Mr L. G. McKenzie, of Papatoetoe, and Mr R. J. Aubin, of Glenfield, were on their way home after setting crayfish pots when the boat suddenly started to ship water.

“I don’t really know what happened,” said Mr McKenzie, the owner of the boat. |“I suppose we must have hit a log or something, but it was so choppy that it was hard to tell. “The boat sank in about ! three minutes.”

Cyprus Force.— Canada has decided to continue its participation in the United Nations peace-keeping force on Cyprus for another three months. The Minister of External Affairs, Mr Paul Martin, said yesterday that the decision came after a request last Friday by the United Nations Secretary-General, U Thant, that Canada maintain its Cyprus contingent of almost 800 men.—Ottawa, De-