STORMY VOYAGE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19584, 16 March 1938, Page 3

STORMY VOYAGE

AUCKLAND YACHT arrival IX \vellixgt< >.\ ANCHORS DRAGGED After battling through heavy seas and high winds, the 35ft. auxiliary ketch Makora arrived in Wellington on Monday morning, II days out from Auckland. Much of the way the vessel met severe weather and finally on Sunday night, when sheltering in Palliser Bay, narrowly escaped wreck through dragging the anchors. The Makora was recently purchased in Auckland by Mr. L. V. Martin, of Wellington, who had with him as crew Mr. J. W. Wray, of Auckland, and Mr. George Roberts, of Wellington.

Leaving Auckland a week ago last Wednesday the Makora made fair pro-

gress under power and sail across the Bay of Plenty and down the East Coast toward Poverty Bay. Oil' Gisborne, however, the Makora ran into a gale from the south and after sheltering under the lee of Young Nick's Head, put into the Gisborne harbour basin. Gale at Castlepoint The Makora left Gisborne on the Monday and called at Napier the following day. She sailed for Wellington early last Thursday afternoon, and made a fair passage as far as Castlepoint. where she arrived early on Friday, the crew intending to stop for :ui hour in the safe anchorage in the lee of the point; but within 30 minutes of their arrival a strong southerly gale blew up and they had to remain at anchor until Saturday night. As it was then tine enough they set out for Wellington, and at daylight were about 12 miles off Cape Palliser. On rounding the cape the yacht ran into a still' head wind. Progress was

slow, a big sea was getting up in Cook Strait, and the wind was rising steadily, so it was decided to shelter in Palliser Isay. Close to the Breakers "But we found very little shelter there,” said Mr. Martin. "The wind ripped down oil’ the high hills in tremendous gusts, and although we had two good anchors out—our 501 b. fisherman’s and a 401!). kedge—both were broken out of the ground together. After a wild night we found ourselves within 50 yards of the breakers at dawn." The wind eased, however, and they started the engines and set a course for Wellington, which they reached in comparative calm.