Ketch Turns On Side

Press, Volume CVII, Issue 31564, 29 December 1967, Page 1

Ketch Turns On Side

(New Zealand Press Association) AUCKLAND, December 28. Two young children were thrown from their bunks when a 55-foot ketch at the Ponsonby wharf broke its moorings and crashed on to its side this afternoon.

Their mother, Mrs Y. Hartley, who is deaf, was also thrown to the deck as the 29ton Inyala crashed over.

None of the three was hurt, but the children, Sandra, aged eight, and Steven, aged three, were shaken and slightly shocked.

The Inyala,. a 60-year-old English-built boat, is owned by a deaf mute, Mr R. Crosby, of Avondale. With his deaf-mute wife and two friends, one of whom is also deaf and dumb, Mr Crosby sailed the boat from Westhaven to Ponsonby wharf on Wednesday evening for an overhaul.

Mrs Hartley’s father, Mr B. Collings, who was helping to clean the Inyala, said she had been tied to the wharf by three ropes. It appeared two had snapped while the tide was out and the ketch toppled over on to her bilge. Mr Hartley said Mr Crosby had plans of sailing the Inyala round the world eventu-

ally but the incident would certainly set things back. At 4.15 p.m., the Inyala was completely submerged by the incoming tide. An attempt will be made later tonight to pump her dry with a bilge pump and to patch the hole in her side. It is hoped she will float off about 4 a.m. with the high tide.