Students' Nightmare Trip

Press, Volume CVIII, Issue 31655, 16 April 1968, Page 14

Students' Nightmare Trip

(N Z. Press Association) HAMILTON, April 15. About 20 University of Auckland students had a nightmare 10 hours at sea yesterday when the launch they were in was buffeted by waves up to 80 feet high between White Island and Mount Maunganui. The owner of the launch Tide Song (Mr O. Wynyard) said today he picked up the party from Mayor Island about 4.45 a.m. yesterday and reached White Island about five hours later. Treacherous seas prevented the party—geology students—from landing on the volcanic island to collect rock samples and the boat headed for home about midday. Mr Wynyard said nearly al) the students were seasick during the return voyage, which took twice the normal time. Not Worried “I wasn’t worried at all as I knew wfaat the boat could do but the only way was to head straight into the waves and we could do only about, two or three knots instead of the normal 10. “The seas were some of the biggest I’ve seen. Some of the

waves were up to 30 feet high,” said Mr Wynyard. The party arrived back about 10.30 p.m. “I bet they won’t be going on another trip for a while," be said. Wind gusts up to 55 miles an hour in Auckland yesterday gave Coast Guard cutters and the police launch Deodar a busy time assisting small boats which were in difficulties. Atmospheric conditions causing static presented big problems in the passing of radio messages. In what was described as “a very hectic day,” Coast Guard craft helped five boats to safety. Runabout Towed The cutter Joanne towed a runabout with two men aboard ipto Whangaparaoa after it

began drifting powerless towards rocks. A ketch which broke down between Ponui Island and Waiheke Island was assisted into Man-o-War Bay, Waiheke Island, by the cutter Sceptre. The cutter Dauntless rescued a 30ft launch only 50 yards from rocks off Browns Island and towed It to Islington Bay, Rangitoto Island. A launch and a mullet boat ran aground on Fairchilds Reef, Kawau Island. The Deodar assisted several craft in the harbour and the Hauraki Gulf, including a 38ft launch which went aground at Matiatia, Waiheke. This morning the cutter Bonita escorted another small craft into Kawau after it had been pulled off a reef between Rat and Goat Islands by a fishing boat