YACHTS CAPSIZED

Stratford Evening Post, Volume II, Issue 225, 21 April 1933, Page 2

YACHTS CAPSIZED

SQUALL INAUCKLAND HARBOUR Press Association —Copyright Auckland, April 19.—Struck by a fierce rain squall, which swept the harbour for a short period at about 6.30 o'clock to-night, two small yachts capsized almost at the same time, one off the Western Wharf and the other near Devonport. The occupants were rescued.

The yacht which capsized off Devonport was a 14ft open boat, the Ramona, and the crew comprised the owner, Reginald Tabateau, aged 17; Guy Haywood, aged 15; lan Brown, aged 12; and Nance Brown, aged 16. The party left Castor Bay in the afternoon for Bayswater. After the yacht rounded North Head darkness set in and the wind increased. A fierce squall suddenly struck the yacht and it capsized, the occupants being thrown into the water. The three boys and the girl clung to the capsized boat and their cries for help were heard by people on the Devonport whari. The ferry steamer Peregrine proceeded to the capsized yacht and took off the occupants, and the i;cow Awhiti, which arrived on the scene ai the same time, secured the capsized craft and towed it to Cheltenham beach. The rescued party was landed at Devonport and later returned to !heir homes.

The second mishap concerned a 10ft centrebuaru boat, the Will o' the Wisp, the only occupant being James Edward Hobberly, aged 19. After the accident he held en to the bottom of the yacht for half an hour before being rescued. He was sailing the craft from Mechanics Bay to St. Mary's Bay and when it was struck by the squall it capsized, turning bottom upwai'd. The accident was not observed from the shore and the young man climbed on to the bottom of the boat and clung to the centreboard. His criesfor a.'kuitance brought no 'ooponue and in the darkness the upturned boat drifted down the harbour with the ebb tide. When the yacht .-a. off Princes Wharf it was seen from the Bayswater ferry steamer Takapun.. and the ferry boat went alongside the capsized craft and after the youth was rescued the yacht was 'owed m the ferry wharf and righted,' no damage being done to it.