Training ship flees before storm

Press, Volume CXV, Issue 33791, 13 March 1975, Page 18

Training ship flees before storm

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND, March 12.

Ambushed by the tail of Cyclone Alison, the training ship Spirit of Adventure today found its “shelter” far too uncomfortable, and arrived back in Auckland tonight after a hair-raising homeward journey.

With an all-girl crewon board, the ship pitched two anchors in an effort to ride out the storm near Coromandel, intending to arrive back in Auckland on Friday.

However, according to the acting master of the vessel, Captain H. S. Hulford, the wind changed this morning, and the ship found itself looking into the storm, with an unhealthy sea building up around it.

“We had no option,” said Mr Hulford. “It was getting more dangerous to stay than it was to go, although had 1 known what it was going to be like out there, 1 might have had second thoughts.” With 50-knot winds and •15ft seats to contend with, the 70ft yacht and its all-gif crew found the trip pretty : rough. “The girls all thought i was a real thrill, and wer< on deck with their safet; harnesses on most of th time.” Mr Hulford saio “Some were seasick, but b and large they behaved ver I well indeed."

With water smashin; across the bows of the yachi Mr Hulford decided to try tc shelter at Man o’ War Bay, at Waiheke. But the wine and seas were so fierce that even with the use of two ianchors and other holding gear, the huge yacht was being dragged around toward i the shore.

Once again the yacht headed for Auckland, and once again was forced to seek

shelter as the seas threatened her safety. Another stop, in Islington Bay, was interrupted by the huge seas, and the Spirit of Adventure had to weigh anchors again for a last run at Auckland.

“I was very happy to pull alongside,” Mr Hulford said tonight. “It was a real dirty night out there, and when you have 27 kids on board you are thinking of their safety all the time.” Things did not fare so well for the dozens of small boats that were flung into trouble j jy the high winds and heavy tseas.

At Hobson Bay, a 20ft launch slipped its mooring: and was dashed against tht rocks before it finally sani his afternoon. At Glendowie i 28ft Feeler slipped its moor ngs and sank. A salvagi ittempt is being made. One salvage firm, Thomp on Marine, Ltd. spent all to lay and most of the nigh escuing victims of th' veather. A trimaran driven asho: i Mission Bay was plucke rom the sand by a larg rane and deposited on ; tearby reserve, and a 221 tunch at Northcote was jusi aved before it sank. On the Tamaki River, one >oat burst its moorings ant toled another before it was taught. The holed boat began rapidly filling with water before the pumps were brought into play, narrowly saving the vessel from sinking. The $40,000 yacht Krasna, which sank off Northcote Point on Tuesday, was salvaged by an Auckland Harbour Board launch today. Damage to the yacht has been estimated at $4OOO. She! had been entered in the Auckland-Noumea race. More than 500 calls have been received bv the Auckland Electric Power Board since 7.30 a.m. on Tuesday. Staff have been kept busy for the last 36 hours, attending to reports of broken lines and power failure in the wake of Cyclone Alison. Mr M. G. Keys, chief engineer for the board, said that 76 lines were brought down I in the board’s area, and reports were still coming in. Port Taranaki was left in havoc tonight by high seas

and gales. Two small boats sank in the harbour.

At high tide at 9.50 p.m. the Taranaki Harbour Board’s 90-ton barge Kiwi broke its moorings and ran aground. It was later secured by heavy lines.

This afternoon, a $3OOO 21ft fishing launch was smashed after being dumped by huge waves at her moorings. The boat, bought earlier this year by Mr F. Bracefield, of New Plymouth, was not insured.

Another fishing boat was rounded against the foreshore by waves up to eight : eet high.

Off Awakino, the Penrod 74 oil rig had a rough time n waves of up to 12 feet and vinds reaching about 40 mots. No damage was retorted.

The storm appeared to be tbating after 11 p.m.