YACHT SENSATION

Evening Star, Issue 18020, 14 July 1922, Page 4

YACHT SENSATION

THE THEFT ADMITTED.

EXPERIENCES AMONG BEEPS.

Press Association— By Telegraph—Copyright,

BRISBANE, July 14. (Received! July 14, at 9.30 a.m.)

Westlake, Mills, and Smith, who were charged at the Rockhampton Court with stealing the yacht Ra-ata, or Oflfata, confessed to the theft.

Westlake, who was the leader of the exploit, in a statement, eaicl that ho had! been at sea since the age of thirteen. Describing the voyage from Auckland, ho said that the most thrilling part was a couple of days which were spent on the Great Barrier reefs. They were in the greatest danger, as they had only to touch and go to the bottom. He kept both his companions on deck for thirteen hours in the afternoon and night, tacking'about in' different directions, and avoiding the reefs. At 2 o’clock in the morning Mills was exhausted, and had to turn in. The others kept on deck until daylight. They had a hurried meal in the cabin, and returned to the deck. They passed a reef 20ft astern, and; saw another 500yds to windward. Throughout that day there was nothing but ceaseless watching, and in the afternoon they just missed striking a reef eight miles in extent. After being forty-eight hours without sleep they negotiated the remaining reefs.