TWO CAPSIZES

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LX, Issue 18066, 18 April 1933, Page 3

TWO CAPSIZES

YACHTS IN RACE ONE CREW SWIMS ASHORE Two 18ft. yachts competing iu the race from Auckland to Coromandel capsized on Good Friday. In one instance the crew were picked up iu quick time by another boat, but the crew of the second boat which went over had to swim to the nearest land. A member of the latter crew, who, it is considered, had a lucky escape from drowning, was Mr. M. Corner, the All Black scrum half. Nearing the Cow and Calf Islands, off the entrance to Coromandel, the Drone, owned by Mr. Le,s. Mills, of Epsom, capsized. Her crew were picked up by the Paroto, another yacht of the same class. The wind was light at tho start of the race, but when tho boats got into the gulf it freshened into a hard breeze. The Drone was carrying a spinnaker, and was leading her class by lOmili. After pa&siug the Cow and Calf and when her crew were talcing in the spinnaker, the yacht capsized, her spinnaker going over the masthead. The Paroto was behind the Drone, and rounded up alongside and picked up the crew of five. In the meantime the Spray, Doreen and Maroro had passed, and the Maroro’s skipper, Mr. Ron. Hunt, of Narrow Neck, reported the capsize to Messrs. Strongman, McNeil and Turner, on the judge’s launch, who left at once for the scene of the accident. They found tho boat, gathered up tho sails and spare gear, and towed the yacht to the Coromandel wharf. Tho crew of the Drone were taken ashore by the Paroto and provided with clothing and berths by other boats.

Very little gear was lost, and the Drone is competing in the race for her

class, The Mystic also capsized when near Cow Island. Her crew, Messrs. W. Macindoe (skipper), S. Macindoe, M. Corner (the All Black), and J. Martin, all of the North Shore, managed to swim to Cow Island, although they were knocked about on the rocks as they landed. They spent the night on the island.

The castaways made efforts to attract the attention of several yachts which passed on their way into Coromandel, but the signals were not noticed. On Friday morning a passing yacht saw tho signals and picked up the crew. Mr. Clark’s launch found the Mystic drifting inside Hangipukea Island, and towed her into To Kouma, with the help of Mr. Sagar’s launch. Her mast had carried away, and the crew saved only the clothes they had on. The boat will be towed back to Auckland. It was fortunate that the yacht was near the island when tho accident happened.

Seven months' careful planning and patient labor have brought Mr. W. B. Owen, a Christchurch chemist, ■within, a few days of completing a delicate task and also of realising an ambition—the construction of a glider, states the Christchurch Times. Mr. Owen set himself the task of securing the greatest degree of stability, and, as the glider grows nearer completion, he is becoming confident of success. His “ship” has a closed fuselage and is designed on lines much more elaborate than those of any other gjlider at present in New Zealand.,