YACHTS CAPSIZE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22932, 10 January 1938, Page 10

YACHTS CAPSIZE

NUMEROUS MISHAPS SQUALLS ON HARBOUR TRIALS OF THE CREWS STRENUOUS SALVAGE WORK With a strong northerly wind whipping up a heavy sea even in the upper reaches of the harbour, capsizes were frequent among Auckland's fleet of yachts racing on the AVaitemata on Saturday afternoon. In some cases crews spent several hours in the water clinging t& their overturned boats until they were picked up by rescue craft. All the boats were recovered, although one, which was abandoned, was not found until some hours later. Apart from the Sanders Cup trials the only races conducted on the harbour in the afternoon were those arranged by the Devonport Yacht Club and the Victoria Cruising Club. The majority of the boats, which met unexpected difficulties when the wind suddenly veered from the north to the northwest at about four o'clock, failed to finish. Four Hours in Water One of the four members of the crew of a 16ft. S class yacht spent four hours in the water following its capsize some ,300 yards off the shore near Duder's Point, North Head. It was over an hour before the mishap was noticed, and a cutter despatched from* the naval base. Three members of the crew of the yacht were taken aboard, but the owner, Mr. C. Macarakie, of Devonport, elected to remain in the water with his boat. The high seas made it difficult to take her in tow and the task was not achieved for three hours. "The wind and the heavy sea made conditions among the worst in the memory of seasoned yachtsmen," Mr. Macarakie said yesterday. "There were several occasions when I almost gave up hope of saving the yacht. Breakers came repeatedly over her and for a period it was just a fury of salt sea spray." Rain Impairs Visibility With heavy rain impairing visibility, it was nearly an hour before advice was received by the Auckland Harbour Board that the 14ft. T class yacht Salome had overturned near one of the' coal hulks opposite Northcote. When the mishap was reported the Harbour Board's launch Ferro was despatched and, after taking the skipper of the boat, Mr. J. Robinson, of Devonport, and his crew aboard, towed the yacht_ to the naval base.

The crew of the new T class boat Edna D also clung to their upturned craft for an hour when it capsized about half a mile from the shore near Watchman Mark. However, their plight was noticed by the owner of a speedboat, which took the yacht to shelter. The fouling of the propeller of a naval pinnace delayed the rescue of the crew of the Mascot, a 16ft. yapht owned by Mr. R. J. Dixon, of Devonport. When nearing the finishing point of the race in which she was engaged the boat was capsized during a severe squall. The pinnace was immediately sent to her assistance, but was disabled through her propeller being caught in the rigging of the yacht. Her plight was signalled to H.M.S. Philomel, and a second launch towed her back to the base. Quartermaster's Action With the exception of Mr. Dixon, the crew of the yacht returned to Devonport with the two naval launches. For two hours Mr. Dixon stood by his boat in tbe hope that it might be saved, but it was found impossible to fasten a line to the capsized craft and it was eventually abandoned. Abotft three hours later the Mascot was noticed floating near King's Wharf by ChiefQuartermaster H. Reid, of the Wanganella. Donning a bathing suit, he dived from the liner with a rope and secured the yacht, which was found to be extensively damaged. While taking part in the Sanders Cup trials the 14-rooter Aileen capsized after rounding the Bayswater Beacon. The crew of four was picked up by the yacht Rarere and the boat handed over ito the. Harbour Board's launch Ferro, which towed her into Stanley Bay. There the craft was baled out *and sailed to Mechanics' Bay. The Manala Overturns In the only race with a course extending beyond North Head the M class yacht Manaia overturned off Resolution buoy when in a leading position. Baled out by her crew, she was sailed back to her moorings at Heme Bay. Just prior to the commencement of a race for Z class boats the Paddy J capsized, being hauled out when she drifted on to the western wall. She suffered little damage. When a rigging screw broke the A class keeler Little Jim was dismasted near Brown's Island and was towed back to the moorings in Mechanics' Bay by the launch Ladv Maie. In a race for 18ft. V class yachts the Paroro broke her bowsprit. There were comparatively few yachts on the harbour yesterday, when squally conditions sffill prevailed. Two minor mishaps, however, occurred. A 16ft. yacht was picked up by a launch from H.M.S. Philomel some 200 yards from the naval base and a second yacht was towed to shelter after capsizing near Kauri Point, Chelsea. On the Manukau a fresh breeze caused two capsizes yesterday, one being the 14ft. yacht Fay ana the otiier a boat of similar class, Topsy. Both were towed ashore by launches". ORDEAL AFLOAT ANXIETY FOR FISHERMAN NAVAL LAUNCH TO RESCUE Considerable anxiety was folt for some time last night for the safety of Mr. W. G- Macindoe, of 12 Rata.Street, •Devonport, who had left early, in the morning in a 12ft. boat .with the intention of fishing in the Rangitoto Channel. Mr. Macindoe had gone out alone and when he did not return by dusk, a launch was tsent out from the naval base at Devonport to search for him. Some time later Mr. Macindoe was found in the channel. He was in an exhausted condition and was taken to his home. After leaving home early in the morning, Mr. Macindoe had fished in the channel until about 2.30 o'clock when a squall came over and ho went to shelter near Rangitoto. He was driven by tide and wind until he was in the proximity of Rangitoto wharf, where he remained until the tide started to ebb. He was half-way across the channel when night fell, but he kept struggling on until he was found by the naval , launch. He made a rapid recovery after being taken back to his home 1 !