YACHT CAPSIZES IN SQUALL

Southland Times, Issue 23990, 4 December 1939, Page 6

YACHT CAPSIZES IN SQUALL

OCCUPANTS STRUGGLE TO KEEP AFLOAT

' r”S”!W RESCUED AFTER HOUR AND

A-HALF

(United Press Association) WELLINGTON, December 2. After an hour and a half’s struggle to keep afloat, four persons who were thrown into the water when the Idlealong yacht Aloha capsized in a squall were rescued by the Eastbourne Borough Council’s ferry steamer Muritai this afternoon. One of the crew, G. Robertson, a labourer, of 12 Milton street, was suffering from shock and another, W. Lamont, a clerk, of the same address, was suffering slightly from shock. The other members of the crew, Mr and Mrs Ballinger, were not hurt. It is understood that the Aloha capsized about midday approximately two miles off Day’s Bay. The master of the Muritai, Captain J. Herd, was told of the accident shortly before the steamer was due to leave Day’s Bay for Wellington at 10.20 p.m. As soon as possible Captain Herd set out to attempt the rescue of the crew and sighted the capsized boat after about 10 minutes. _ A strong north-west wind had raised a choppy sea and waves were breaking over the craft, to which Ballinger and Lamont were clinging. Captain Herd put the Muritai into the wind and then steamed slowly down to the Aloha till the two boats were almost touching. A line was then thrown from the Muritai to the yacht and the men were pulled up till a fireman and a deck-hand standing on the belting running round the steamer were able to assist them aboard. The rescued men said there were still others to be rescued and Robertson was found about 500 yards nearer the shore. Mrs Ballinger, who was swimming strongly, was rescued another 500 yards away, only half a mile from the Rona Bay wharf. Robertson, who was very exhausted, was placed on top •of the Muritai’s boiler on the journey to town and he and Lamont were taken to hospital by the free ambulance when the steamer berthed in Wellington. They were later discharged.

The Aloha was towed ashore at Muritai later in the afternoon.

The passengers on the Muritai praised the handling of the Muritai by Captain Herd. They said the strong wind and choppy sea made the work of rescue difficult.