THE OCEAN YACHT RACE.

Gisborne Times, Volume XXVII, Issue 2694, 27 December 1909, Page 5

THE OCEAN YACHT RACE.

STOPPED BY THE GALE. EXCITING EXPERIENCES OF A YACHT. I Pea Press Association.! DUNEDIN, Dec. 26. A terrific south-westerly squall burst at the start of the ocean yacht race for the Rudder Cup on Friday evening. The Pera (Messrs Hanlon 2, Mason and Anthony) was dismasted, and the Yvonne (Professor Scott, of Christchurch) was tossed over the mole by a huge sea and she bumped, but not severely. The Carrina and Rona both came to grief, aloft, and ran in under Taiaroa Heads for anchorage. The squall happened just as the starting gun was fired, and the nine yachts competing were carrying every inch of canvas. The Pera appeared to be riding to her anchor all the easier for being rid of her top hamper, so Commodore Hanlon, in his motor yacht, the only sizeable craft present, went to the rescue of the Rona, which was in a perilous position close to the rocks at Harrington Point. Her stern was within a fathom of the breakers when she-was towed clear, and taken to the comparative shelter of the Maori Kaik. The commodore then returned at full speed to Port Chalmers for the Lady Roberts, the Defence vessel, which left for the'scene at: 9*30 p.m. By the time she reached the Heads the Pera had disappeared, and a heavy southwesterly gale was raging. At 4 a.m. on Christmas Day the racing cutter Aorangi put out and reached northward along the coast, and saw a vessel which she took to be the Pera, in Waikouaiti Bay. Meanwhile'" the Lady Roberta •had made another fruitless search,' but learning what the Aorangi had sighted, she put to sea again at 3.30 p.m. During Christmas Day news came through that the dismasted yacht was off Danger Reef, Moeraki, with two sea anchors out. A launch was sent out, and the yacht was towed inside, after having been driven by the gale for 30 miles on,the ,previous night. , . . The Pera’s hull is not damaged, and all on board are safe and sound. The Yvonne, after jumping the mole, luffed and at the first lull she ran for sea room. She beat in and up the harbor against the gale on Friday night. Her sails are badly torn. Damage to canvas and cordage is considerable, and several of the nulls-must be badly strained. All; the., yachts abandoned the race owing to the heavy, < weather. There were an astonishing .number ofhairbreadth escapes; but the display of seamanship was excellent- The ocean • launch .race, which was to have started from Dunedin at 7 on morning was postponed owing to .the heavy sea on the bar.