BOATING MISHAPS.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLIV, Issue 1179, 29 November 1924, Page 5

BOATING MISHAPS.

YACHTING PARTY CAPSIZES. GIRLS’ PLUCKY SWIM. SYDNEY, Nov. 21. Sydney weather, this summer at any rate, has been remarkable for its sudden change from bright sunshine to rain and high winds, and it was one of these remarkable swift-about faces in conditions last Sunday which caused numerous boating mishaps inside and out of the Sydney harbour.

The most serious of them all endangered the lives of thirteen persons in the yacht Lady Alma, which capsized off North Head quarantine station at 4.30 p.m. They were portion of a party which had picnicked at Littlo Manly, which is oil the harbour side of the famous bathing resort. The remainder of the party, comprising three children and four adults, had been landed at the Manly ferry pier. “You will want to lie careful. There arc thirteen in the boat,” was the parting injunction of those left behind at Manly when the yacht put oil' for a run round the harbour. TURNED RIGHT OVER. She hugged the shore.as far as the Heads, and was just gybing to come round when some heavy squalls, which accompanied the abrupt change in the weather, struck her broadside on, and she shipped some heavy seas. While they were attempting to right the craft more squalls upset her, and she turned right over, the occupants being thrown out. They were about a quarter of a mile from the shore, in the centre of a turbulent patch of water, known to be shark infested. Four women were amongst the crew of the boat, and everyone took hold ot the keel while the nien tried to attract the attention oi passing shipping. Two men, Henry Andrews and Albert Dean, with Misses Ethel and Muriel Tate, decided to swim for shore, despairing of rescue arriving in time, and, fully clothed, they set out on the quarter-mile journey. Muriel Tate was able to manage the swim, but her younger sister Ethel, less at home in the water, conserved her strength by resting one hand on Andrews’ shoulder. Dean swam behind them to watch their progress, and he stated subsequently tint it seemed hours before they reached the quarantine station. When they landed, both girls being exhausted, they turned to find that a little fox terrier, one of the pets of the Tate girls, had accompanied them, the dog also accomplishing the journey without mishap.

GIRLS COLLAPSE. Both of the Tate girls collapsed from the strain within a few minutes of landing, and, after treatment at the quarantine station, they were taken to the Manly hospital and admitted for observation. In the meantime the other seven men and two women clung to the upturned Lady Alma, and were successful in attracting the attention of the master of the Manly ferry steamer Balgowiah. At the same’ time a party of naval reservists, who hud put into quarantine to shelter when the jib of the cutter tney were sailing carried away, also set out to the rescue of the yachting party. Both the cutter and a boat from the Manly steamer reached the Lady Alma at the same time. The former took oil four of the men, and the ferry s boat rescued the remainder and took them on to Manly, where they were landed little the worse for their experience. By Monday all those concerned had recovered.