Couple rescued in Cook Strait

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33434, 16 January 1974, Page 14

Couple rescued in Cook Strait

f.Vcw Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, January 15. A Wellington couple rescued from their overturned yacht in winds of 50 knots in Cook Strait today arrived back in Wellington toI night.

Looking exhausted as he Istepped on to the rail ferry wharf, Mr John Butcher said: “We are very grateful to the crew of the Arahanga. That’s all I want to say.” The rail ferry Arahanga rescued Mr Butcher and his wife, Janet, from their 18ft ply yacht on its side in very rough seas about three miles off Karori Rock and Sinclair Head this afternoon.

The Roseneath couple had ’been sailing from Picton to ‘Wellington at the end of •their holidays. • The captain of the Ara'hanga (Captain J. W. Brew) said tonight that the ferry • was on her way to Picton when her crew sighted a • small boat obviously in distress about 12.30 p.m. “The boat was on its side, • full of water with a man and • a woman clinging to it,” Captain Brew said. ; “It did not have any buoyancy tanks and was clearly sinking fast.” The Arahanga had a lifeboat lowered in six minutes and took on the couple, who were wearing lifejackets. The ferry then steamed on to Picton. The Arahanga had radioed the Wellington police who sent out the police launch, Lady Elizabeth 11, to take the capsized yacht in tow. But when the launch arrived at the spot there was no sign of the yacht. The skipper of the Lady Elizabeth (Constable L. Robinson) said they searched the area for three and a half ('hours but did not sight the ■I yacht. “It must have sunk very quickly.” Mr Robinson said.