SAILING TRAGEDY

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXV, Issue 22971, 24 February 1938, Page 14

SAILING TRAGEDY

CAPSIZE OP WHALER CRITICISM OF LIFEBELTS NAVAL RESERVE OFFICER UNSUITABLE EQUIPMENT [by telkoraph—OWN correspondent] "WELLINGTON. Wednesday Dissatisfaction with the lifebelts provided in a Royal Naval Volunteer .Rcservo whaleboat was expressed by an officer at the inquest this morning into the death of James Wood Jarvis, aged 17, who was drowned as the result of a whaleboat capsizing in Wellington Harbour on November 7 last. It was stated that the, type of life-saving gear provided was very unpopular with mombors of the P.N.V.R., as it was liable to be caught in ropes and ship's gear in the event of a capsize. Evidence was given that this happened in the case in question. The inquest was conducted by Sergoant J. Martin before the district coroner, Mr. E. Gilbertson, J.P. Lieutenant Peter Phipps described how he and a crew of five reservists had taken the whaleboat to Somes Island. " Wo left tho island at about 3 p.m.," ho said, " and wont toward Kaiwarra, and as wo were going over we noticed the breeze was stiffening considerably. We were about two-thirds of the way across to Kaiwarra and were preparing to run down to Pipitea Wharf when we capsized." Trapped Under Boat Witness described how tho men clung to tho boat and how he noticed that Jarvis was missing. Ho and Quinn, another member of tho crew, dived and found that deceased was tied up in ropes which were keeping him down. Ho was pulled to tho surface, but had to bo supported for some time. Later he was again washed away, and did not reappear. After being a long time in the water tho survivors woro rescued by a launch. The Coroner: When you got tho boat righted again, was it not possible to climb in and row her? "It is impossible to keep a whaleboat tho right way up once it capsizes," said Lieutenant Phipps. Ho added that it was the regular thing in tho service to handle such a boat upside down, once it had capsized. Clumsy Lifebelt

" The type of lifebelt used is very clumsy," said witness. " It consists of cork blocks that project from back and front, and it is very unpopular with all people who do sailing, as it is liable to catch up in ropes or the gunwale of a boat in the event of a capsize. "When Jnrvis was first submerged it was a rope that had caught around the belt that was responsible. When he was brought up alongside the boat he was still being hold by the rope, although his face was out of the water. It was necessary to free him very quickly, and the only way to do this was to take the lifebelt off." t Witness said that himself would not wear one of the belts. In Toply to a suggestion by Sergeant Martin that the crow were too heavily clothed, witness said that it was not difficult to get out of oilskins in a hurry. Sergeant Martin: Did you think that due care was taken in the circumstances?—l consider that every care was taken. The belts were there. Sergeant Martin: But you did not use them. No Blame Upon Officer The coroner observed that they were evidently regarded as a menace in that they became entangled with ropes in the case of a capsizo. Lieutenant Phipps said conditions were not the same when the boat was returning from the island as they were when the outward journey was made. He did not then consider the conditions dangerous, but he appreciated the difficulties later on. At the time of the mishap the whaleboat was carrying the minimum of canvas. The coroner said he was of opinion that no blame was attachable to Lieutenant Phipps, who had done evervthing possible. "Whether he will make any representations to the naval authorities about the clumsiness of cork life-belts is for him to decide," said the coroner. " I think it would be worth while." Lieutenant Phipps: I have already done that, sir. The Coroner: You are quite right. A finding was given that deceased was accidentally drowned.