Rafts for Swimmers.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 301, 19 December 1931, Page 8

Rafts for Swimmers.

To the Editor. Dear Sir,—ln the “ Star ” yesterday a statement was made by “ Surfer ” that additional safety would be afforded swimmers at New Brighton by the mooring of rafts on which swimmers would be enabled to rest. My Surf Club always welcomes any suggestion or criticism that may result in the better protection of the bathing public, but in this case the proposal is impracticable. Experience has shown us that it is impossible to anchor any object such as a raft for any length of time. The first heavy sea would wash the raft ashore or smash it to matchwood. My club have had buoys anchored, the chain of which has been snapped clean in half in rough weather. Some years back Captain A. W. Owles made a determined attempt to place a permanent buoy. A boat was brought from Lyttelton and an anchor weighing over a ton and consisting of iron wheels and scrap iron was dropped about level with the end of the pier in front of the Surf Club, but the first heavy sea brought the whole lot ashore. Even were it possible to securely anchor a raft I think it would be the cause of many swimmers getting into trouble. They would make the raft their objective and, should there be a current or the tide running out, would have great difficulty in reaching the shore again. Comparison with Caroline Bay is impossible, because the Bay does not face the open sea and consequently has no breakers or currents. On behalf of my club I thank ** Surfer m for his suggestion, but from the above ha will see that his idea is impracticable.—l am, etc., F. S. TAYLOR, New Brighton Surf Bathing and Life Saving Club, Ino