AMERICAN YACHT

Grey River Argus, 19 January 1940, Page 10

AMERICAN YACHT

In Auckland Storm AUCKLAND, January 16. ■ Disaster 'almost overtook two American, brothers and their 30ft yacht Drifter when it heeled over until its 32ft mast was under water some distance off Cape Brett at the height of the storm on-Sunday morning. This was the alarming climax to an anxious night during which the yacht was at the complete mercy of mountainous seas and a 70-mile-an-hour gale for seven hours. This experience was told by the owners of the yacht. Robert Westrem, aged 26, and' John Westrem, aged 19, of Los Angeles, when they reached Auckland last night on a further stage of a world cruise. They joked about it as they moored their snug little craft, but admitted that they thought their last moment had come and they would never see land again. “We had no .idea it could blow so hard,” they said. “We had no forewarning. The barometer dropped suddenly, and the wind’ came away with a roar. The jib blew out,* and with three reefs in it, the mainsail threatened to be tattered, so we lashed everything down. “Our sea anchor failed, and the engine was useless in such a sea, so we went below. We thought every huge green wave would be the last, and prayed that none would break over us.

"At last it'came, when the boat was already half-submerged’ with a foot of • water 1 inside. Both of us were lying bn the weather bunk, hoping to .'save the boat from capsizing. ’ “The next thing we knew we were flung toward the lee wall. As it turn • ed down under us, it seemed as if our keel left the water. The boat hoyered like this for a few seconds and then righted- herself. That was all r but 'it was enough. < : The storm passed ;, off soon' afterward.” ■' ' Water plunged into the cabin and as they struggled to their feet both were slightly injured. The brothers’ first thought was. to man the bilge pump'iln the cabin. ' Drifter was making for Auckland from Suva. The voyage lasted 17 d'ays. For four days before the gale, the boat was becalmed, and . the Westrons were ’unable to take sights. By dead reckoning they- estimated 1 hey were 10 to 12 miles off Cape Brett.' ; - ''■■■■ ’• _ Their greatest fear when the wind hit them was that they would l be driven ■ ashore, but when' it abated and switched to the opposite quarter, carrying them offshore; they observed Cape Brett light miles distarit, and they set their course for Auckland.