Three on raft beach safely

Press, 20 October 1986, Page 7

Three on raft beach safely

PA Auckland Three persons who were reported missing at the week-end on a “raftlike contraption” travelling from Auckland to Kawaii Island apparently beached the craft safely on Whangaparaoa Peninsula.

The Auckland Volunteer Coastguard expressed amazement yesterday that the raft — which they would not describe as a “vessel” — carried the three as far as it did.

Two coastguard boats searched for the trio after relatives had told the police that scheduled radio contacts with the raft had not been made.

A coastguard spokesman, Mr Peter Hambling, said the two men and a woman set off from Bucklands Beach about 10.30 a.m. on Saturday, heading for Kawau Island. The raft measured five metres by three metres.

was made of steel pipes welded together, had a plastic shed on top for shelter, and was powered by a big outboard motor.

Searchers failed to find the raft, but relatives later told the coastguard the three persons had reached shore safely at Army Bay. Mr Hambling said, “The thing that amazes us is that anybody would set to sea in such a thing. The weather forecast for Saturday was for 20-knot winds gusting 30 knots. There were a lot of rain squalls over the area.”

After beaching the craft overnight, the trio completed their journey yesterday. The police said. the three persons spent the night at Army Bay and then set sail on calmer waters to complete their journey.