NARROW ESCAPE

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 3, 5 January 1938, Page 10

NARROW ESCAPE

YACHT AMONG ROCKS

RESCUED BY ARAHINA

A narrow escape from total loss was experienced by the large cruising yacht Maputu yesterday afternoon, A^hen she was towed by the Harbour Board pilot launch Arahina from amongst a group of rocks off Point Dorset, Seatoun. Previous to this she was aground and pounding heavily for about three hours. The yacht sustained remarkably little damage. The Maputu is a little more than a fortnight old, and is a schoonerrigged vessel fitted with a 30 h.p. motor driving a 20 by 17 pitch propeller. Her dimensions are: Length, 32ft; beam, 10ft; draught, 6ft. Completely fitted with electric lights, water tanks, and six built-in berths and lockers of polished oak. rimu, and kauri,, she is beautifully- finished inside and out.

After being launched at Whirokino Bridge, Foxton,vshe left Foxton on December 21 for Nelson, having on board Messrs. F. Stallard, sen., the owner, M. G. and V. Stallard, his sons, L. Carmichael, and B. Cavell. Most of the party were from Levin. After several days in the Sounds, the party left for Wellington, via Collingwood. Conditions across the Strait were bad, with a northerly gale and heavy seas.

At about 3.15 a.m. yesterday the vessel was hove-to off Island Bay to.wait for daylight. Later yesterday morning she commenced to beat up to get in the lee of the land, being then entirely under sail. After making six tacks, she reached a position right off Fort Dorset. Here an eddy caused her to miss stays, though according to her owner, Mr. F. Stallard, the boat is exceptionally good at staying. She drifted into a group of- rocks just off the end of the point before the ' motor could be started.

POUNDING HEAVILY.

The anchor failed to hold, and the boat lay,, pounding heavily, with her bow hard against the rocks. Cushions were used as fenders to protect the side of the vessel, and an attempt was made to get'a line out 'astern by means of the* yacht's dinghy. The dinghy broke free, however, and went ashore on the point. The motor could not be used on account of the proximity to the rocks.

In response to a hail from the stranded yacht, a bystander communicated with the Harbour Board, and theArahina^ was sent round to tow the vessel off. A line was put aboard by the Arahina's boat, and the yacht was towed to safety stern-first. She was then taken to Evans Bay, where she tied up at one of the Patent Slip jetties. Last night' she was drawn up on the Yacht Club slip at Evans Bay. Damage was confined to a battered forefoot an i the loss of some paint.

The spot where the yacht got into difficulties was known in the sailing days as a danger spot for small vesselsv and i quite a number of coastal schooners and pinnaces, as well as several larger vessels, have been ashore there. About four years ago Mr. Stallard lost a new boat in Palliser Bay, when he put in for shelter in a northerly, gale. The Maputu is valued by her owner at £1500.