Sunk yacht’s crew return home

Press, 28 December 1988, Page 29

Sunk yacht’s crew return home

PA Wellington The crew of the Welling-ton-owned and skippered ocean yacht, Aztec, returned home yesterday after the yacht sank on Monday evening after hitting a submerged object during the annual Wellington-Gisborne race. The seven-strong crew was picked up by another competitor, Chinchilla, of Wellington. Chinchilla entered the Port Nicholson yacht marina at 12.40 p.m. yesterday under engine power. Aztec’s captain, Bryan Coleman, leapt off the yacht as it berthed to hug his waiting wife Helen. Also waiting to greet crew were other family members.

The Gisborne Yacht Club officer of the day, Ray Wenham, said he spoke to Coleman on the Chinchilla by radio early yesterday. He said the yacht hit a submerged object between

midnight and 12.30 a.m. “They just flew the flares and put out a mayday call which was picked up in the Chatham Islands,” Mr Wenham said.

The crew was rescued about two hours later by the Chinchilla which saw the flares. Mr Wenham said it was not clear whether Aztec’s crew had stayed on the yacht or taken to their lifeboat. The crew did not know what they had hit. There was speculation it could have been a log, a container or a whale, Mr Wenham said. Coleman had ruled out the possibility of hitting a rock because he was too far offshore. The first indication of the sinking came when a farmer on the Te Awaiti Station, 80km south of Masterton, reported to Masterton police that he had sighted flares. Because of atmospheric con-

ditions the mayday call was picked up only in the Chatham Islands.

The conditions also meant the police were unable to make radio contact with Chinchilla.

Aztec left Wellington at midday on Monday to take part in Coleman’s eighth Wellington-to-Gisborne race. According to the race media liaison officer in Wellington, Linda Murray, conditions were favourable for the race start, with a 25-knot northeasterly rising to 40 knots prevailing.

Twenty yachts started, but five have now pulled out because of the weather which, although not unsafe, was making it very uncomfortable for many yachts, Mr Wenham said.

Aztec had taken line honours for the race three times, in 1974, 1976 and 1980.