THE YACHT KIA ORA.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XL, Issue 12401, 24 October 1903, Page 5

THE YACHT KIA ORA.

STORY OF HER BEACHING.

INTERVIEW WITH MR. ISAAC

AN ARDUOUS AND PERILOUS TIME.

Br the steamer Kaw&u, which arrived from Omaha yesterday afternoon, Mr. Percy Isaac, proprietor of the Royal Hotel, who accompanied Mr. Buekeridge in the little yacnt Kia Ora, which was beached at Point Rodney on Tuesday last, returned to town. Mr. Isaac, although suffering from a bad cold, does not appear to have suffered much from what he describes as a most trying experience. In an interview with a Herald representative yesterday, Mr. Isaac said: — COHKENCEHE2;T OF THE CKUIfiB. "I left in the. Kia Ora with the intention of proceeding as far as Gisborne with Mr. Buckeridge, where he was to have been joined by his companion for the long voyage to London, via Cape Horn. We left St. Heliers Bay on Sunday afternoon, October 18, and made out towards Cape Colville, bound to Gisborne. The night was dark and stormy, but nothing out of the way, and the Kia Ora made good weather of it. When about halfway between Colville and Cuvier a heavy gale from the eastward, with a very high sea, set in, and the seas began to break on board. Finding that the yacht was making some water, and the wind and sea increasing so much that it was impossible to make any headway, we decided on Monday morning to run for the Great Barrier for shelter./ THE RtJH FOB THE BARRIER. " The yacht's course was accordingly changed, and under the staysail we ran for the- Barrier. It was turn about at the tiller throughout. Tile sea was tremendous, ana at times the yacht was almost buried, and several times I thought she would be swamped as she dropped down into the trough of the sea; and" then again, caught on the top of a gigantic wave and getting broadside on, would heel over to such an extent that the after hatchway was under water. Several times I thought it was ' all up,' as the yacht went over so far that I thought she wouia surely capsize. It was hold on all the time, j I can assure you, and both of us were in the • cockpit, a/s the after hatch was closed so that ! no more water would get below. It was pitch dark, with thick misty weather, and the wind coming down from all parts flattened the sails at times so that the yacht could not possibly keep her course. Finally we got under the lee of the Great Barrier on Monday night and anchored. ALL THE PROVISIONS SPOILT. " Going be-low I found that there was a good deal of water in the yacht, and to make matters worse, during the jumping about we had undergone a tin of kerosene had broken loose and the contents saturated all the provisions. That is the reason why we could gel; nothing to cat; as a matter of fact, all we had had since leaving St. Heliers Bay was a cup of cocoa, so you will understand that our position was not a very enviable one. It being impossible to remain below owing to the smell of the kerosene, we got a couple of blankets, which were also wet, and, fairly done up, threw ourselves down in the cockpit to try and get a few hours' rest. DRIFTING OUT TO SEA. " But that was not to be, for at about five a.m. on Tuesday we were suddenly awakened by heavy seas breaking over us, and we then found that the yacht had tripped her anchor and bad drifted out to sea. The wind and sea were too heavy to attempt to get back under the Barrier, and not daring to put out the sea-anchor, in .case we should drift ashore, it was determined to make for the Kawau. The wind still blew a gale, with a very heavy sea, and to make matters worse it set in thick and foggy, with hail and rain, making it impossible to see any distance ahead; and we missed the island in the darkness. LAND SIGHTED. "Early on Tuesday morning _ land was sighted, "which proved to be Maori Island, at the entrance to Omaha. We skirted the island, and tried to weather Point Rodney, with the intention of making for Whangarei. But here again the wind and sea battled us, and the yacht had to be brought round, it being a lee shore, and very little chance of working off it. Finding we could not weather the point, it was decided to try and beach the yacht, and. she was' pointed • for -the beach, between the point and the island.

"XECK OR XOTHIXC." '"It-was an ugly-looking place, with the jagged rocks on either side of us, but it was a case of 'neck or nothing.' So, taking our coats, waistcoats, and boots off, to bo ready for all emergencies, we made for the entrance. The» yacht was caught by a tremendous roller as she passed in, and each- holding- on to one of the masts wo awaited the issue. Over the yacht went until the masts were buried, but she quickly recovered herself; we breathed hard for a moment, when another roller took her, and she went over even farther than the first time. Before the third one caught her she began to bump, and did so badly three or four times, and thou the third one caught her and we were on the beach. It did not take us a second or two before we both jumped ashore, and mighty thankful We were that wo had come through such a sever© ordeal in safety. With assistance the yacht was shortly afterwards hauled up on the beach above high water-mark, and made secure. Mr. and Mrs. Tenetahi gave us a cordial welcome, and our first meal since we left Auckland was gladly and thankfully partaken of. THE CKEISE TO BE RESUMED. " On examining the yacht we found that the only damage, beyond the straining done in the heavy weather, was a small hole in the side, which was done when she came ashore. It is Mr. Buckeridge's intention to continue his voyage as soon as the necessary repairs are effected." Mr. W. Bailey, of Messrs. Bailey and Lowe, the builders of the yacht, left for Omaha last i night, in order to see the extent of the damage, but it is not yet decided whether the Kia Ora will return to Auckland or sail for I Gisbonie from Omaha.