Gusts upset O.K. fleet

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33753, 28 January 1975, Page 1

Gusts upset O.K. fleet

Patrol and committee boats suddenly assumed the roles of rescue craft when an unexpectedly strong easterly wind, gusting up to 30 knots, hit the fleet contesting the sixth heat of the New Zealand O.K. dinghy yachting championship at Lyttelton yesterday.

Only the most experi- ’ enced and accomplished of the competitors survived without mishap. More than 20 helmsmen capsized and even some of those who returned to the Canterbury Yacht , Club without taking un- ’ scheduled swims suffered , damage to their boats. The Lyttelton waters were J liberally sprinkled with 'upturned hulls bobbing ,| between the white caps that I had been whipped up by the , wind, against the ebbing tide, and the contest’s officer of the day (Mr R. J. Harri- • son) said last evening that the elaborate radio-telephone I communications which had i i been established for the J series prevented matters from '; getting out of hand. • A shore base high on the > i hills overlooking the course, I; and manned by Mr C. J. Wor- ■ nail, was used to pin-point ; the major trouble spots and ' direct patrol boats to the assistance of the yachtsmen. 1 ■ The wind would probably ■ have been enough to worry J some of the younger skip- ' pers, but M- Harrison said | that the very big swell was

the biggest contributing factor. Consideration was given to calling for emergency services, but the efficiency of the radio network between the harbour and the land station made this unnecessary, Mr Harrison said. ‘There was a lot of broken gear — I saw a sail floating in one direction, (ind a rudder and tiller in another, but there was nothing we could do about that,” he said. Eleven of the dinghy sailors were shepherded to Purau, on the southern side of the harbour, for shelter. Two were met by cars and their boats trailed back to Lyttelton, and the others made their way to the Canterbury club under escort from three patrol boats.