Search Called Off In Error

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31584, 23 January 1968, Page 22

Search Called Off In Error

(N.Z. Press Association) AUCKLAND, Jan. 22. A misunderstanding between two patrol boats during a sailing race in the Manukau Harbour led to a search for a missing youth being called off. The body of Mr Brian John Flannigan, aged 18, a postal clerk, of Portage Road, Green Bay, was found later. The accident happened on Saturday when the 12ft catamaran sailed by Mr Roy Hughes, aged 17, of Green Bay, and Mr Flannigan, capsized. As the patrol boat from Blockhouse Bay Yacht Club in charge of Mr O. N. Exler searched the spot, Mr Hughes righted the vessel and was sailing it toward the spot where Mr Flannigan was thrown off. But the catamaran capsized again and the patrol boat picked up Mr Hughes.

Mr Exler searched for 10 minutes for Mr Flannigan and then the French Bay Boat Club’s boat arrived on the scene. Called Out “I yelled out to them to ask their control tower if anyone had picked up Flannigan,” said Mr Exler. The French Bay boat was informed that the crew had been picked up. “Their members on the shore must have seen us pick up Hughes and informed their

boat on the R.T. that the crew wfis safe,” said Mr Exler. The French Bay boat then told the Blockhouse Bay boat that Mr Flannigan had been picked up and the search was called off. It was resumed about 30 minutes later when calls on shore for the youth to report to the control tower went unanswered. Mr Exler said today: “I don’t think it would have made any difference had we

gone on searching. I think he must have been hit by the boom because he went down and we didn’t see him again.” No Comment The commodore of the French Bay Boat Club (Mr G. Addis) would not comment on his club’s patrol boat part in the search. He said his committee would be holding a meeting soon to discuss the incident. Mr Exler said his club could not enforce a regulation that members should wear life-jackets at all times when sailing. “We can and do enforce it for juniors, 16 and under, and we’d like to do the same for seniors,” he said. Mr Flannigan was not wearing a life-jacket.