YACHT SINKS

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 6 August 1931, Page 7

YACHT SINKS

STUDENTS’ UNENVIABLE EXPERIENCE SWIM. THROUGH ICY SURF .! (By Telegraph—Press Association) AUCKLAND, This Day/ A swim of 200 yards through ice cold surf, and a barefoot struggle over oyster covered rocks at Rangitoto Island, were • the final stages ill a desperate adventure which befcl three .students of Auckland University Collogo, Mu gray A. (Pastier, aged 21 years, John McCormick (20) and Miss Joyco Hewitt (19), before they reached tho haven of the island. 1 The students had been in dire peril as tlioir yaciit, a 16-footer, lay out of control at the mercy of squally weather.'. Tho boat sprung a leak off Bpan Rock and sank beneath them when they wore blown on to a reef in attempting to make Rangitoto wharf. When the yacht began to submerge, they moved their greatcoats and footwear and all superfluous clothing and f ,'j started a long swim to the shore. All are fairly good swimmers and in-spite of the intense coldness of the water sue- 1 - cccded in gaining tho island without suffering serious harm. The students landed on oyster-cover-ed rocks which they had to cross in * their bare feet on the way to the nearest cottage several hundred yards away, where they wove givon food and spare clothing. Apart from the chilling effort the students wore little the worse for their unenviable experience.