YACHTS CAPSIZE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21471, 20 April 1933, Page 8

YACHTS CAPSIZE

STRUCK BY SQUALL YOUTHS THROWN IN WATER ORDEAL ON DRIFTING CRAFT RESCUES BY FERRY STEAMERS Struck by a fierce rain squall wMch swept the harbour for a short period at about 6.30 last evening, two small yachts capsized almost at the same time, one off Western Wharf and the other near Devonport. The occupants were rescued. The yacht which capsized off Devonport was th 9 14ft. open boat Ramona and the crew comprised the owner. Reginald Tabuteau, aged 17, residing at Norwood Road, Bayswater, Guy Haywood, aged 15, lan Brown, aced 12, and Nance Brown, aged 16, all of Castor Bay. The party left Castor Bay in the afternoon for Bayswater. After the yacht rounded North Head darkness set in and the wind increased. Presently a fierce squall suddenly struck the yacht and it capsized, the occupants being thrown into the water. The three boys and the girl clung to the capsized boat, and their cries for help were heard by people on the Devonport wharf. The ferry Bteamer Peregrine proceeded to the capsized yacht and took off the occupants. The scow Awhiti, which arrived on "the scene at the 6ame time, secured the capsized craft and towed it to Cheltenham Beach. The rescued party were landed at Devonport and later returned to their homes. The second mishap concerned the 10ft, centreboard boat Will-o'-the-Wisp, the only occupant being James Edward Mobberley, aged 19, who resides at Hillsborough Road, Mount Roskill. After the accident he held on to the bottom of the yacht for half-an-hour before being rescued." He was sailing the craft from Mechanics' Bav to St. Mary's Bay and when it was struck by the squall it capsized, turning bottom upward. The accident was not observed from the shore and the young man climbed on to the bottom of the boat and clung to the centreboard. Cries for assistance brought no response, and in the darkness the up--turned boat drifted down the harbour with the ebb tide. When the yacht was -off Prince's Wharf it was seen from the Bayswater ferry steamer Takapuna. The ferry boat went alongside the capsized craft and after the youth was rescued the yacht was towed to the ferry wharf and righted. No damage was done to the yacht.