MAKURA'S ROUGH TRIP.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21232, 12 July 1932, Page 8

MAKURA'S ROUGH TRIP.

FIERCE STORM IN TASMAN.

HEAVY SEAS AND SWELL.

VESSEL'S SPEED REDUCED.

ARRIVAL SIX HOURS LATE.

[by telegraph, press assocuhos.]!; WELLINGTON. Monday Battling her way C entr 6 0 f a cyclonic storm during t h e first two dav, out from Sydney, the liner Makura which arrived in port shortly after \ ' to-day about six hours late, experienced one of the worst Tasman crossings that has fallen to her lot during the years she has been in the- Sydney-San Francis mail service. . .

"There was a strong southerly and heavy rain when we left Sydney," sai J one of the ship's officers describing thV trip, "and ,we had everything battened down and the forepeak cleared before we left the Heads. Outside it was blowing * full gale with a very heavy south-easterly swell. The wind steadily increased, reaching storm force by 6 p.m. Th e high wind caused high, dangerous-breaking' seas which broke across the ship. ' "Wo had reduced speed to eight knots, but we were making only about five knots. We were continually shippm* seas and heavy spray and water swept right over the ship. We,.constantly had to change course so as to shoulder the seas The Makura goes " better when taking seas slightly on her beam instead of directly head-on.

"The wind Continued to blow a gale during Friday night with high seas and a confused swell. The weather then gradually veered through south-west to westward, and as the wind blew aft we were gradually able to increase our speed again. Blinding rain fell practically all the time and the ship pitched and tossed heavily.

"The average speed from 4 p.m. on Thursday, when the ship left Sydney, until noon on Friday, was about nine knots, compared with the customary 15 knots. The gale moderated considerably on Saturday, when the' speed was increased the average for the day being 13i knots. On Sunday _the Makura ran int6 a heavy east-south-east which made her pitch almost as badly as before and caused further discomfort to the passengers. From Stephens' Island to Wellington the sea was smooth."

"Some of them put in an appearance at lunch to-day," said another officer, when asked how the passengers stood up to the rough passage. "Most of them kept to their cabins throughout the trip. There was one exception, however, and that was a little girl of about 15, who never missed a meal."

The Makura came through the storm practically unscathed, although minor damage was done. A portion of the teak railing on the starboard side on the main deck was carried away, but otherwise, except for a coating of salt on the funnel, there was little evidence to day cf the buffeting the ship received.