N.Z. frigate races to aid second yacht

Press, 7 June 1983, Page 1

N.Z. frigate races to aid second yacht

PA

Auckland

A dramatic rescue began late last evening as H.M.N.Z.S. Otago raced to the assistance of the New Zealand sloop Chicane north of North Cape.

The 9.3-metre yacht, which is believed to have overturned three times, was in danger of being swamped by violent seas. Late last night a Royal New Zealand Air Force Orion was circling the yacht about 90 miles north-north-east of North Cape as it battled its way under jury rig through a 10-metre swell and 60-knot winds.

The yacht was in constant danger of being hit side on and rolled by the big waves. “If they get through the night they’ll be right,” said a Warkworth man, Mr Geoff Roper, who had been in radio contact with the yacht yesterday afternoon. Chicane was being sailed back to New Zealand after competing in the Auckland-to-Suva race. The owner and skipper of

the boat, Mr Murray Mulcahy, his wife Diane, Mr Nyle Griffiths, and Mr Paul McDonald were on board. All four were well, but very tired after the yacht had been rolled several times after encountering the bad weather more than 24 hours before. The Otago is expected to rendezvous with Chicane early today. A reporter on board the Otago said the frigate was battling rough seas and high winds. The Chicane’s propeller had been fouled with rope so its engine could not be used. The crew of the Otago were hurriedly called back yesterday so that the frigate could go to the yacht’s aid. A container vessel which

first tried to help the yacht, hove to’ last night after her captain feared his cargo would shift in the heavy seas.

The executive officer of the Otago, Lieutenant-Com-mander Peter Baldwin, said last night that the Otago should reach the yacht by 7 a.m. today. A decision would then be made how best to help the yacht. “Taking people off can be very dangerous,” Commander Baldwin said. “We don’t want a repeat of Sunday.” Then, Mr Robert Whitehouse, a Rotorua crew member of the yacht Southern Raider also returning from the Auckland-to-Suva race, died as he tried to leap to safety from the bucking yacht on to the rescuing cargo ship Jumbo Stella 11. Commander Baldwin said

they would decide the course of action when they arrived on the scene. “It might be best to watch them for a while.” Commander Baldwin said another option was to transfer some members of the crew to the yacht to help.