Yachtsman Overboard Saved by Red Hair

Manawatu Times, Volume 63, Issue 153, 1 July 1938, Page 3

Yachtsman Overboard Saved by Red Hair

SEARCH IN ROUGH SEA SYDNEY, June 24. A young Brisbane man, Philip Morris, had many a schoolboy fight when his mates called him ‘‘Ginger,” but he feels now that the blows he took when he sought reparation for jeers at his flaming red hair were both worth while. For it was only his red hair that saved him from drowming in heavy seas recently. When Morris was washed overboard from the yacht Kewarra 12 miles east from Cape Moreton, Queensland, he was swept 100yds. from the craft. It was ten minutes before the yacht could be brought close enough to enable his companions to throw him a buoy, and half an hour before he was rescued. “It was a miracle how we managed to locate him in such seas,” said one of . the crew. ‘‘lf it had not been for the | sun shining on his red hair I doubt if he would ever have been located.” Four of tho five members of the crew I returned to Brisbane from Trial —ay, New South Wales, where the Kewarra j was forced to shelter. The yacht was being delivered to a Sydney purchaser. The crew comprised Messrs J. R. Figgis, vice-coramodore of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club, as captain, and Messrs P. Morris, M. Duff, E. Reye and J. Drouyn. A heavy southeasterly gala struck the craft on the second day out, and, while big seas were being encountered off Cape Moreton, Morris was swept overboard. When Morris had grasped the buoy he was lost to sight again. As a main runner had carried away just before he was washed overboard, his rescuers had to rely on the jigger and staysail to get to him. The engine failed at tho same time. After six attempts, during which the yacht was at times a mile away from Morris, the Kewarra was brought close enough for a rope to be thrown, and the rescue was completed.