Hurricane Forces Wayfarer To Turn Back; Out Of Race

Northern Advocate, 27 January 1938, Page 8

Hurricane Forces Wayfarer To Turn Back; Out Of Race

STRIKING A HURRICANE ABOUT 120 MILES OFF CAPE MARIA VAN k DISEMEN. THE 36-FOOT CUTTER, WAYFARER, ONE OF THE TWO YACHTS TAKING FART’ IN THE TRANS-TASMAN YACHT RACE FROM AUCKLAND TO HOBART, HAD A NARROW ESCAPE FROM DISASTER, AND, AS A RESULT, HAD TO PUT BACK TO WHANGAROA, WHICH WAS REACHED YESTERDAY AFTERNOON.

“When we were about 30 or 40 m iles off Cape Maria van Diemen the wind began to rise, but. we kept going and eventually ran into what seemed like the centre of a cyclone," said Mr. K. G. Reid, one of the crew in an interview over the long-distance telep hone with the “Northern Advocate" this morning.

“The wind seemed to hesitate, and then came round opposite, blowing in a northerly direction. The conditions were so bad that we could only get one sight on the way back to the coast, and instead of striking the Cape, we made landfall about five or six miles down the Ninety Mile Beach."

Only Two Competitors. The race commenced at Auckland on Tuesday, January IC, the wayfarer and the Auroroa Star being the only competitors. Mr. J. W. Wray’s Ngataki was. provisionally entered but did not start. The Auroroa Star was off scratch and the Wayfarer off 44 hours 37 minutes 3 seconds. There was a fresh I breeze at the commencement and the Wayfarer rounded North Head at 7.45 -p.m., setting her course for the 1530 mile run to the mouth of the Derwerit River, on which Hobart is situated. Under normal conditions it was thought that the run across would take about 12 or 13 days. The crew of the Wayfarer comprised Messrs K. G. Reid, D. Reid, A.» H. Millbourne, and S. burne. Weathfer Calm At First. For the first four days the weather was calm and North Cape was reached Friday, the other competitor, the Auroroa Star, being passed in Spirits Bay—at least according to Mr. Reid a yacht thought to be the craft was seen, though they could net be sure. A course was set due west, aftdr being becalmed off Pandora Bank until Sunday. Conditions were good for a 1 time but when about 30 or 40 miles off the coast the wind began to rise and'Scon attained hurricane force.

i ing from the north. What was the weather report like?” Mr. Reid asked, incidentally. Actually, on Monday it was re-

ported that a tropical cyclone' was expected to cross Northland within 24 hours, so that it seems likely that the Wayfarer met the storm first. The sea was rising all the time and at the worst stage of the storm reached 25 to 30 feet in height, the waves being steep and short, with only a few breaking.

The Wayfarer was behavingwell, however, but one or two seas were shipped, and one wave, ..came aboard and the skylight frame on the starboard side was stove in. Little Water Shipped. “Despite the seas, remarkably little water was shipped,” Mr Reid* said, “and we only had to pump once while we were hove-to, waiting for the weather to abate. We also got out oil bags and rigged a sea anchor to try and ease things. Everything in the lockers and shelves came down, and most of our food was ankle deep on the floor. *Put we were too busy to think of food, and there was no hope in the world of preparing anything hot."

At the height of the storm a fault developed in the steering gear, but this, Mr Reid said, was not. serious, one screw coming adrift, and this was soon repaired. The rest of the cutter’s gear stood up to the strain remarkably well, though the main sail, brand new when the race commenced, began to split ir places, appar-. ently due to faults in the material. It was soon seen that it would be useless to continue the race and it was decided to turn back. Only one sight could be obtained and a landfall was made five or six miles down the Ninety Mile Beach. The Wayfarer had to sail close-hauled up the coast to round North Cape, with a fairly heavy sea running, but after turning the Cape smoother seas were encountered and good progress was made to Whangaroa, Reached Whangaroa Yesterday. The Wayfarer was becalmed on Tuesday, but in the evening anchored inside Stephenson Island, and reached Whangaroa yesterday afternoon. Apart from strain and lack of sleep, the crew suffered no ill effects.

• '“We kept going, battling away for two days,” Mr. Reid said today, “and eventually ran into what seemed like the centre of a cyclone. The wind seemed to hesitate and then came found in the opposite direction, blow-

Mr Reid said, that it had been decided to abandon participation in the race, and after a rest they will return to Auckland probably tomorrow or on Saturday. lie commented that it would not be worth continuing for the £SO prize offered.

No further wort! has boon received of the progress of the Aurora Star, now the sole competitor.

A tribute to the gteat hospitality of the Whangaroa residents was paid by Mr Reid. They had, he said, done everything possible for the comfort of the crew, and no one could have been kinder, ft will be remembered that about two years ago, Mr J. W. Wray, when sailing to Norfolk Island, met with similar conditions and had to return to Whangaroa.