A STORMY VOYAGE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20303, 10 July 1929, Page 12

A STORMY VOYAGE.

KETCH ENCOUNTERS STORMS

A severe buffeting in a succession of gales was received during her trip to (iisborno by the auxiliary ketch Will Watch, which returned to Auckland yesterday morning. With a full cargo of coal the vessel left Auckland on June 26. After rounding Capo Colvillo the mainsail suddenly jibed with the result that the boom caught the back stay and carried away the main topmast. Ihe vessel put into Kennedy Bay to effect repairs to the rigging. After the trip was resumed very stormy weather was encountered on the run to the East Capo. The wind was blowing a hard gale from the north-west and seas continually broke on board, one wave striking the lifeboat and damaging it considerably. During t ho height of the storm the ketch had to be hove-to for twentv hours.

When the conditions moderated the trip was resumed. After rounding the cape thero was a repetition of stormy weather and the vessel had to bo hove-to for another ten hours.

On the return trip from Gisborrio stormy weather again prevailed in the Bay of Plenty. Tho vessel received another severe, buffeting and after having llm staysail blown to pieces by the wind she put into Mercury Bay for shelter at mid-day on Sunday. She remained at anchor until Monday morning when the weather improved sufficiently for tho trip to be resumed.