YACHT WRECKED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXIV, Issue 956, 28 December 1933, Page 5

YACHT WRECKED.

Crew’s Narrow Escape from Drowning. FIVE MEN IN PERIL. Per Press Association. AUCKLAND. December 27. j A narrow escape from drowning was j experienced by five members of the i crew of the Auckland yacht Little Jim, i which was driven ashore and totally j ' wrecked at Catherine Bay, Great Bar- i I rier Island, after being dismasted in a : j gale on Christmas Day. News of the i 1 accident was received in Auckland to- j j day. | The crew comprised E. J. Mitchei-j j comb, G. Alison and G. L. Haslett. all j j in their early twenties. | The Little Jim left Port Fitzroy, ! j Great. Barrier, shortly before eight j i Barrier Island. On account of a strong j i south-westerly gale and heavy seas it j j was decided to turn back. Shortly alter j i the mast broke and the dinghy fouled ! j the wreckage of the mast and was lost, j i A jury sail was hoisted and a course set ! ; for Catherine Bay, about six miles j An attempt was made to reach the , sheltered side of the bay, but when this proved impossible two anchors were dropped in an ‘ exposed position at about 2 p.m. These held for about I four hours, and when one gave way | the other began to drag. It was then l seen that nothing could be done to ! save the boat and the crew were forced i to swim to land, 100 yards away. The j yacht went ashore on the rocks shortly ! afterwards and the pounding of the j seas soon reduced her to a total wreck. 1 The five men made a tent from the 1 sail and camped for the night. ;