A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21406, 6 August 1931, Page 11

A PERILOUS EXPERIENCE

ADVENTURE with a yacht SWIM IN ICE-COLD WATER. (Special to Daily Times.) - AUCKLAND. August 5. A swim of 200 yards through ice-cold surf and a barefoot struggle over oystercovered. rocks at Rang'.toto Island were the final stages in a desperate adventure which befel three students of Auckland University College—Murray A. Pastier (aged 21), John M'Cormack (aged 20), and Miss Joyce Hewitt (aged 19) shortly after 1 o’clock this morning. Before they reached the haven of the island the students had been in dire peril, as their yacht, a 16-footer, lay out of control at the mercy of the squally weather. The boat had sprung a leak off Bean Rock, and she sank beneath them when they were blown on to a reef in attempting to make Rangitoto wharf. Pastier said he and M'Cormack purchased the boat a few weeks ago, and on Tuesday night, after their college lecture, they were to Judge’s Bay to continue fitting out. Miss Hewitt had been assisting them in making sails, and she accompanied them. „ “ About half-past 9,” said Pastier, we started to take the boat from Judge’s Bay to the Auckland Rowing Club’s shed in Mechanic’s Bay, but on rounding the breakwater we were caught by the tide and a strong westerly wind and carried rapidly down the harbour. When close to the Bean Rock we tried to turn the yacht, but in lowering the centreboard we strained the centreboard casing and the vessel started to make water. For a long while we made efforts to tack back. The weather was very squally, and it was soon obvious that we could not do any tacking with the centreboard in its weakened condition. “Putting on all sail we decided to go with the wind and make a run for Rangitoto. We had to bale strenuously the whole way, and although we .tried to make for the wharf we missed it by about a mile. Our boat, getting, too close inshore, the keel hit a reef and we were ■wrenched dean out, the boat filling in no time.”

When the yacht began to submerge, continued Pastier, they hastily removed their greatcoats, footwear, and all superfluous clothing and started the long swim to the shore. Fortunately, all are fairly good swimmers, and in spite of the intense coldness of the water they succeeded in gaining the island without suffering serious harm. The students lauded on oystercovered rocks, which they had to cross in their bare feet on the way to the nearest cottage, several hundred yards away. There they were given food and spare clothing. . Apart from the chilling effect of their exposure in the water, the students are little the worse for their unenviable experience.