Acheron forced to take shelter

Press, Volume CXVI, Issue 34044, 7 January 1976, Page 1

Acheron forced to take shelter

(From 1

HUGH POPHAM.

, exclusive and copyright to "The Press" and the "Observer "

After a day’s delay caused by gales south of New Zealand, the expedition sailed from Dunedin at 9 p.m. on January 4.

With calm seas and light winds, the ship made good progress south during the night and crossed the eastern end of Foveaux Strait during the forenoon of the fifth in brilliant sunshine.

The weather patter is I still unstable, however, and 'Acheron’s skipper. Alex

Black, decided to shape a course that would take him within the lee of Stewart Island in case of weather deterioration. The wisdom of this strategy became clear when a gale warning was issued at 2.45 p.m. Within an hour the wind strengthened to 40 knots from the north-west and the ship made for the shelter of Port Pegasus. Stewart Island, until conditions improve. During the run in. the southern ocean demonstrated the unpredict-

London./

ability and violence of its weather. Within a couple of hours the wind strength was up to 50 or 60 knots, the sea was smoking with spume, and the waves bursting on the rocks were being lifted and hurled away in veils of spray. Even in the land-locked; shelter of the natural harbour; the surface of the water was being whipped off in the gusts. Luckily, the anchor bit at once for Acheron was shearing through 90 degrees

and the chain was bar taut. | The expedition last year; was more fortunate and went ; straight through from Dun-j edin to the Auckland Islands ' But, even during the summer; months, it is not unusual to! have to take refuge in Stew-1 art Island. One hundred and! 40 miles from Dunedin, it 1 [provides a useful haven be-1 fore tackling the 220 miles of open water between it and the Aucklands. By late evening the wind had eased. This morning's forecast, however, promised: only a gradual decrease of. wind and seas and Coalman-; der John Grattan used the! break to put the two inflat-j able boats into the water,!

sort out the gear, and give the team an acclimatisation. All this should save time when we get on site At the moment the General Grant and her treasure seem I remote. In any case it would |be impossible to work off that I exposed west coast in this 'weather. And it is the wea!ther that will be running this expedition from now on , After the coldest Christmas [for mans vears. the southi rn [summer is the arbiter of what happens during the [next week or two. And there [are a Jot of crossed fingers [aboard Acheron as the grey [clouds go scudding past over* (head.