A SCHOONER IN A GALE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLI, Issue 9188, 13 April 1910, Page 7

A SCHOONER IN A GALE.

The batterefi bulwarks of the trim little schooner Amelia Sims as she berthed at the King's wharf on Monday morning from Hokianga indicated that the vessel had undergone an unusual experience.

Captain J. Johnson told a Times representative:—"l have been thirty-two years on the New Zealand coast, and I assure you that tho southerly gale wo weathered after leaving Hokianga was the worst I have ever experienced.

"Wo left Ilokianga at 11.30 a.m. 011 March 30th, and when we got about 25 miles out to 6ea it came on to blow like a hurricane. To give you an idea of what tho seas were like, they swept the whole length of the decks, smashed the main boom, washed away all our mooring lines, stove in the bulwarks amidships and on the quarter, and flooded the cabin. Tho gale blew our jib. squaresail, and staysail to ribbons. We were hove to for two daj's under the foresail only. Tho mainsail was badly ripped.

"The schooner's cargo of timber was well fastened down, or else wo would have had a more serious experience. The seas made it dangerous to go about tho dccks, and the cook had to abandon his galley. It was a great relief when the weather moderated.

"We spliced tho broken boom and beat our way down the coast, and wore off Cape Egmont on Saturday. Fine weather then set in, and "a light northerly breeze brought us to port." The crew had a busy time patching up sails after tho gale, and when the Anielia Sims got alongside, as her mooring Fines were washed away, some discarded lines were brought up> from below to make , the vessel fast.

Tho Amelia Sims is owned by Mr John Sims, of Ivaiapoi.—N.Z. Times.