A LEAKING YACHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLVI, Issue 14081, 8 June 1909, Page 5

A LEAKING YACHT.

EXCITING EXPERIENCE.

PICKED UP BY A STEAMER.

A party of Auckland yachtsmen had a somewhat sensational experience in the Waiheke Channel on Sunday. The party, which consisted of four (Messrs. Pearce (2) Ond two others), left Putiki Bay, Waiheke, for Auckland, about three p.m. on Sunday, in a 26ft keel yacht, owned by Air. W. Pearce. A strong southwest wind was blowing, and when the yacht was about a mile off Maraetai she sprang a leak. All hands were kept busy baling her out, but the leak increased, and the little craft soon filled with water. Fortunately for those on board, the Northern Company's steamer Waimaric, bound from Auckland to Paeroa, was sighted, and signals of distress were at once given. These were noticed by Captain Bettis, of the Waimaric, 'who immediately steamed to the assistance of the leaky yacht, and towed her ovtr to Maraetai, where she was moored alongside the wharf. The Waimarie then proceeded on her voyage. Later in the day the Northern Company's paddle steamer Kopu, which had been advised of the mishap, called at Maraetai on her way from Kopu to Auckland, and brought'the yacht's crew on to town, where they were safely landed on Sunday night. A member of the crew of the yacht informed a Hkrald representative last night that they had had a very trying experience, and had not the Waimarie put in an appearance the yacht might have gone down, as she had two tons of ballast in-her. ,