YACHT HAS STORMY VOYAGE FROM RUSSELL

Northern Advocate, 10 March 1936, Page 8

YACHT HAS STORMY VOYAGE FROM RUSSELL

SAILS BLOWN TO SHREDS IN HEAVY WEATHER

[Special to “Northern Advocate.”] AUCKLAND, This Day. pOLD AND EXHAUSTED AFTER Vj A BATTLE WITH HEAVY SEAS, MESSRS J. H. WHITELAW AND H. M. COOK, OF RUSSELL, REACHED AUCKLAND YESTERDAY IN COMMAND OF THE B CLASS YACHT, RANGI. Two headsails were blown to shreds and the craft was continually drenched with heavy seas on the trip down the coast from Russetl. “It- was one of the worst nights I have experienced off the coast,” said Mr Whitelaw, “and although we were in no danger, we were both pleased to reach port. Being short-handed made conditions infinitely worse, and we were also complete strangers to the boat.” A Big Roll. The Rangi left Russell shortly before noon on Saturday and after reaching Cape Brett ran into a heavy and confused sea. Recent easterly gales had caused a big roll apd the strong prevailing south-easterly wind formed a steep and short cross-sea. The Rangi’s

decks were continually awash, and, in spite of careful handling, she was struck by a fierce squall, and was on her beam ends for over a quarter of an hour. The cockpit, although a self-draining one, was flooded for some time, but little water found its

way below. It was while being buffeted by the sea that the jib

sheets carried away and the sail split down the middle and was blown to ribbons in an instant.

The yacht was headed for Whangamumu and shelter was reached without further incident. The voyage was resumed on Sunday morning and thick weather, with big seas, was again experienced. Conditions moderated as the yacht made its way down the coast. However, in the vicinity of KaWau Island a “black squall” struck the craft and blew opt the remaining headsail. Under just the mai'nsail and. with land squalls anything but certain in the light afforded when the moon appeared between rifts of dark clouds, the Rangi continued her arduous beat up the Gulf. Fortunately the mainsail was a particularly strong one, made especially for ocean work when the Rangi was a competitor in the trans-Tasman contest some time ago. When Rangitoto Channel was reached the auxiliary motor was started ,and the yacht picked up her mooring under power.

Both Mr Whitelaw and Mr Cook have had extensive experience in small boat seamanship ac they were formerly employed on the Whangamumu whaling station, and have since managed boats engaged in swordfishing in the North.