Drifting boat mystery solved

Press, 10 December 1979, Page 6

Drifting boat mystery solved

PA Auckland Search and rescue organisers believed that they had a Marie Celeste-type mystery on their hands at the Bay of Islands yesterday after a 5.5 m fishing boat had been reported drifting, unmanned, near Cape Brett. The Elida, which had left the far northern port of Houhora on Wednesday, was seen by the Tasman Venture, sailing from Tauranga to Adelaide, about 6 a.m. yesterday. The Tasman Venture sailed close to the drifting vessel in a bid to determine whether she was manned. Nobody was seen on board, but the boat’s outboard motor was inside the cockpit. The initial theory was that the Elida may have broken away from her mooring, but when it was discovered that she had left Houhora with two on board for a fishing trip, Search and Rescue authorities stepped in. An R.N.Z.A.F. Orion, returning from a search mission in the New Hebrides, was asked to look for the

Elida. A light aircraft and several other launches also joined the search. The Orion, short of fuel, was forced to return to Whenuapai. It had found a ship in difficulties in the New Hebrides on its arrival in the area, about 7 a.m., and after a brief conversation with the ship, was assured there was nothing further it could do. A second Orion took over the search for the Elida, and late in the afternoon saw a fishing boat fitting the description given by the Tasman Venture. Because of bad weather it could not positively identify the boat, but was able to direct a launch to the vessel, off the Cavalli Islands. The fishing boat was reached and confirmed as the Elida about 7.30 p.m. Two persons were on board, in no trouble. It was unclear last evening why the Tasman Venture had been unable to find any sign of life aboard the Elida 13 hours previously.