ADVENTURE IN MULLET BOAT

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXII, Issue 175, 9 July 1932, Page 7

ADVENTURE IN MULLET BOAT

LONE VOYAGER RETURNS. WAIMA LIMPS BACK TO PORT. By Telegraph—Press Association. Auckland, uly 9. With most of her sails in ribbons, her dinghy stove in, and the cabin in confusion, the muiiet boat Waima, in which a young Englishman, William Currie Valentine, left Auckland last Sunday week bound for England, limped back to port this morning. ‘I had confoundedly bad luck,” said Valentine. “The little craft ran into bad weather almost immediately, but the real trouble began on Tuesday’ when she continually shipped seas and the sails were torn away. At 1.30 on Tuesday afternoon, when about 100 miles east-north-east of the Great Barrier, I decided to turn back.

‘‘That night the boat was on her beam ends and nearly under, and the mainsail was blown out.” Valentine’s pocketbook was washed away, with all his money. Under jury rig, the yacht headed for Auckland, adverse winds and calms prolonging the return voyage till this morning.

Valetine, who realises he is luck to be alive, chiefly regrets the loss of his money, which will prevent him refitting the craft for a second attempt. ‘‘l would start again to-morrow if my gear was in order,’’ he said.