Yachties praise rescue effort

Press, 16 August 1988, Page 1

Yachties praise rescue effort

By

NEIL CLARKSON

The glassy inner harbour of Lyttelton was a stark contrast yesterday morning to the blustery south-west winds and 4m swell endured by the crew of the yacht Animation on Sunday. Its crew sent out a distress call late on Sunday morning after the 12m yacht’s sails blew out and its engine overheated. The Naval Reserve vessel Kiwi

and an Air Force Friendship began a sea search off the Canterbury coast. The yacht was pinpointed by the Friendship crew about 8.30 p.m. south-east of Banks Peninsula.

The Kiwi picked up the Animation at 11 p.m. on Sunday and towed it into Lyttelton, arriving about 8.30 a.m. yesterday. Those aboard, Mr Dennis Payton, of New Brighton; and Mr Rory Deans and Miss Helen

Steele, both from Coalgate, near Darfield, praised the search effort.

“They did a 150 per cent job. A great job. We are very grateful to them,” said Mr Payton. “They came out to the boat in very rough conditions.”

Mr Deans said they were never particularly worried in spite of the damaged sail and engine difficulties.

“To be quite honest, we weren’t particularly concerned because it was a very sound boat.”

Miss Steele, who suffered badly from seasickness during the ordeal, agreed: “The boat was handling it very well. (But) it felt marvellous getting on Kiwi.” Commander David 8001, of the Kiwi, said there was a 3.5 m to 4m south-east swell overlaid by a

25 knot south-west wind when they reached the yacht. “The yacht was riding comfortably to its stern anchor but its motion was quite vigorous.” He said conditions eased as they came round Banks Peninsula about 4 a.m.

Pinpointing the yacht in the dark was not difficult, he said. It was made easier by directions from the Friendship overhead.