CAPSIZE IN HARBOUR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21467, 15 April 1933, Page 6

CAPSIZE IN HARBOUR

TWO YOUTHS AND A GIRL TIMELY RESCUE MADE Clinging to their capsized boat in the middle of Lyttelton Harbour, with seas constantly breaking over them, two. youths and a girl had a trying quarter of ah hour late one recent afternoon, until they were picked up by a launch. The boat was a sailing punt, Rascal, and those rescued were Robert Hendry, Horace Hannah, and a fourteen-year-old girl, Peggy Graham. A strong north-easterly wind had been blowing all the afternoon, and had raised a big sea in the harbour. The party had been out in the little boat down the harbour, and were returning to Lyttelton, running before the wind. Between Officer's Point and Diamond Harbour Point the spinnaker skied, and the boat, travelling at a great rate, got out of control, and capsized. Thrown into the water, the youths used every endeavour to keep the girl on the upturned hull, but in the rough sea the task was a difficult one. There ' was no other boat handy, the water was very cold, and there was the risk of some of the party being tangled up in the cordage and sails which were swirling round the boat. The position of the party was becoming serious when they were fortunately sighted from Mr. 0. Woodward's launch, Minerva, which immediately went to their help. The task of picking them up was not easy, owing to the heavy sea, but was eventually accomplished, and the upturned boat taken in tow. Meanwhile the alarm had been given in Lyttelton by Mr. W. Tissiman, who saw the boat immediately before and in the act of capsizing. Mr. Tissiman imformed Mr. George Illiugworth, proprietor of the passenger launch Stan- ' ley, which immediately set out to the rescue. The Stanley had a heavy head sea to contend with, and arrived to find that the rescue had already been effected. The Stanley took over the towing of the capsized boat, progress being slow owing to the drag of the sails and gear, and arrived back at the boat harbour an h"6\ir later. The Minerva left immediately with the youths and girl, who appeared little the worse for their adventure.