COOK STRAIT DASH

Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXIV, Issue 43, 1 February 1934, Page 5

COOK STRAIT DASH

DEATH ENDS ATTEMPT Boat Capsizes off Terawhiti MEN IN WATER THREE HOURS (By Telegraph—Pruo Association.) WELLINGTON, Feb. 1. The attempt by two men in a high-speed motor boat to make a 50-mile dash from Wellington to Picton yesterday evening ended tragically, resulting in the death of Mr H. Clarke, of Wellington, the owner of the boat. With Clark in the boat wag Mr F. W. BarrettWood, of Melbourne, a member of the Royal Brighton Yachting Club. The motor boat Miss Wellington left Wellington at 3.15 yesterday afternoon ▲ll went well until a mishap off Cape Terawhiti caused the craft to capsize shortly after seven o’clock. At 10.25 p.m. the steamer Kiwitea, en route to Wellington, heard cries from the overturned boat, which by then had drifted towards The Brothers. Fifteen minutes later the men were taken aboard the steamer, but Clarke died later. Wood was in an extremely exhausted condition. He had supported Clarke in the water for three hours.

The Miss Wellington is a light craft •nd said to be capable of a speed of up to 50 miles an hour.

It had been estimated that the crossing would take from about an hour and a quarter to an hour and 20 ruinates. From the Wellington side the weather conditions appeared very favourable, and the trip was expected to be made speedily and smoothly and to act up a new record for the Cook Strait crossing.

When the news of the boat’s nonappearance after several hours was communicated to Wellington, extensive inquires were made without any reKilts until a radio message from the Kiwitea was received.

A competitive touch to the venture was given by the fact that a similar outboard boat, driven by Mr Alan Woodman, commodore of the Wellington Outboard Club, was to

have accompanied the Miss Wellington. The two boats left at the same time, but before the Heads were reached the engine on Mr Woodman ’s craft developed a defect and he had to return. Mr Woodman had intended to make the return trip after teaching Picton. Mr Barrett-Wood arrived in New Zealand recently on his way to Australia after a two years’ absence, having visited Britain and the United States. CLUNG TO THE HULL Clarke was unable to swim and for three hours Mr. Wood clung to the hull of the Miss Wellington supporting him. Several times Mr. Wood was forced to leave the craft in order to regain his hold on his companion and when at last his calls for assistance were heard aboard the Kiwitea he was in a state of extreme exhaustion and Clarke was unconscious. The boat had just passed through two rips before the trouble was experienced and the craft drifted into the third out of control and seas began filling her. In a short time she sunk and the men were left clinging to the hull. The Nelson ftrry steamer Matangi passed in the darkness, the cries of distress from the men failing to reach her.

Tho failure of the boat to arrive at Picton caused anxiety and four broadcast announcements were made from 2YA between 8.15 and 10 p.m. Tho aceidcnt occurred shortly after 7. The broadcasts were heard on board the Kiwitea and a watch was being kept for the boat. At 10.25 the master. Captain Grey, heard cries, and the boat was eventually located in turbulent water. SHARK CRUISING AROUND With darkness descending, Mr. Wood’s ordeal was added to by the fact that a shark was cruising about. No attacks were made, and by splash- • ing the men kept it at a distance. They were wearing lifebelts but Mr. Wood had to keep a grip on his com pau/on and prevent him being washeo away. Several times this happened and Mr. Wood had to bring him batk. The shock resultant from the lengthv immersion was too much for Clarke, however, and he was dead before being lifted aboard the Kiwitea. The spot was midway between the Brothers and the Karori Rock lights. The Miss Wellington was a 16-foot. outboard motor boat driven by a 45 h.p. engine. She belonged to Mr. Wood and carried a spare engine. SHOWED DISCRETION. Another attempt was planned to cross the Strait—that of Mr Woodman. Although not keen to make the trip, Mr Woodman was prepared to do so in order that a local man might have the honour of completing the feat. He went out to Makara. but was advised not to go as conditions along the coast were not good. He returned to Wellington and in the afternoon was trying out his speed boat in Evans Bay when Miss Wellington left. Thinking she was perhaps going to Petone, Mr Woodman set out to follow her. but when he saw her rounding Point Hals well he turned back. When he did ■o he hoped, he says, to show the occupants of Miss Wellington that he did not intend to make the crossing nn iaipri-*'-’ m’ght have gained in the f- 1 that lie f dluwod t' e . I Had ’i -a aide to do so he I .or l '

have advised the others to abandon their attempt as he himself had already done. He thinks that the trouble that brought about the sinking of the Miss Wellington was that the engine driv. ing tho craft made the boat’s speed too high to navigate the rip. MR WOOD INTERVIEWED. Mr Barrett-Wood, interviewed, stated this afternoon that when the boat got into the third rip the water breaking aboard caused the engine to cut out and the after cockpit filled with water. They got on to the bow and tried to paddle the boat head into tho wind, but breaking waves caused her to capsize. He attempted twice to swim to Terawhiti, but turned back both times owing to exhaustion and the seas. Clarke was all right for the first hour, but after that became slightv d.’ i'mis, ami the coming of the ik ,oiindeVd bis nervous exhaus-