FAMILY SAFE, YACHT LOST

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33580, 8 July 1974, Page 2

FAMILY SAFE, YACHT LOST

(N.Z Preu Association) GISBORNE, July 7. A family of four New Zealanders landed at Gisborne yesterday morning in the Japanese fishing boat Taga Maru No. 11 after their yacht Tamure had struck trouble in a storm 80 miles off East Cape on Wednesday. They are Victor and Dawn Brown, of Auckland, ana their two daughters. Wendy, aged 14, and Cindy, aged eight. The Tamure was taken in tow by the fishing boat on Thursday night, but began to take in water and sank with all the Browns’ possessions on Friday morning. The Brown family had been living in the 38-foot yacht, and had in-; tended to leave for overseas soon. Neither the yacht nor their possessions were in-; sured. Flares were sent up on! Wednesday night when the boat was seen near the vacht. but the boat disappeared over the horizon. However, on Thursday morning Mr Brown, went on deck and saw the Taga Maru a short distance away. He attracted the attention of the crew with flares.! "Thev got a line to us and] then pulled us across to the; boat on a small rubber dinghy, and by God it was rough,” he said. At this stage the Tamurej was not taking in so much! water, and after about three! hours work the Japanese ship! brought the yacht under tow. | However, the yacht began l to take water again while’ being towed in the rough; weather, and in addition the! tow rope snapped. “The crew; of the Taga Maru were mag-i nificent. and they fought for' hours to try and save the yacht,” Mr Brown said. They! managed to get the yacht! under tow again, but about! 9 a.m. on Friday the Tamure! sank. i