Youth Drowned In Capsize Of Yacht

Northern Advocate, 10 January 1948, Page 2

Youth Drowned In Capsize Of Yacht

AUCKLAND, Sat. (Sp.)— An Auok-j land youth was drowned after a yacht i capsize off Owhanaki Bay. on the north-west tip of Waiheke Island, yes- j terday. He was: Ilruce Allen, aged 18. son of Mrs ; Daphne Allen, Buckland Road, j Epsom. i j Accompanied by Victor Fields, aged ; 18. son of Mr R. E. Fields, 581 Mt Al- ; bert Road. Allen sailed to Oneroa on 1 Boxing Day in their Z class yacht! Avon and remained there for the holi- : days. At about 10.30 o'clock yesterday i

meriting they left the anchorage to be- j gin the trip back to Auckland, but after • they had rounded Oneroa Point they j encountered high seas which opened j up a leak in the hull of the yacht. DECIDED TO SWIM They decided to make immediately j for Matiatia, but when they were about j half a mile out from Owhanaki Bay j the strong beam wind caused the yacht' to capsize. Hoping that the wind and tide might carry them to the shore, the two boys clung to their craft for half an hour, | but found the heavy breaking seas 100 | much for them and decided to swim ■ for the beach. Both were wearing lifejackets and they set off holding hands. \ With the journey half completed the | youths found themselves almost ex- ! hausted, and Fields went on alone to , get assistance. | He reached the shore almost in a state of collapse, but after he had lain on the beach for about five minutes | to recover he ran to the police station ! at Cneroa and informed Constable J.j T. Smith, arriving there at 12.45 p.m. . SEARCH ORGANISED The constable went immediately to j Matiatia, where he organised a search j party to cross to Owhanaki Bay by j land, while he went round in a fishing i launch. i

Those in the launch found the dam- j aged yacht wrecked off the rocks at j the northern point of the bay, but j were unable to land because they had no dinghy. They then noticed signals from the ! Darty on the shore and returned to | Matiatia to cross overland to Owhan- j aki Bay.

Allen’s body was found on the beach ! at 1.20 p.m. by two yachtsmen.