Lucky Escape For Ketch
p. 117 · Read in the full issue
From Rarotonga's Reef
The 35 ft ketch Trendaway, which recently joined the small list of ships to be refloated after going aground on Raro tonga’s treacherous reef, was being made seaworthy in Avatiu Harbour in March.
THE ketch is skippered and owned by Norman Baylay of Oakland, California.
She drifted on to the reef at Black Rock about 10.40 p.m. on Saturday, February 19, when hove-to for the night ( PIM, March, p. 16). The man on watch saw the lights of Avarua, and those of the Sanatorium high above Black Rock, but thought Trendaway was well clear of the reef and drifting past the island.
The rest of the crew were sleeping, tired out after battling a storm for two days.
Although the seas were calm, the ketch was carried about 100 feet on to the reef where she crashed down on her port side, damaging the hull and fracturing some frames.
On board besides Norman Baylay, were Vincent Burgett, an American, Jim Peterson, a Canadian, and Christopher Duncan, an Englishman.
They spent a wet and uncomfortable night on board and waded ashore for help the next morning.
Mr. William Heather, of Arorangi, offered to help refloat the vessel and he put 25 men to work on February 21, cutting up trees for use as rollers.
The men began to move the yacht towards a hole in the reef, using tree trunks and cut up lengths of old masts for rollers, and a block and tackle secured to an anchor jammed in the coral. Two days later,
Trendaway lay at the edge of the hole ready for launching (see picture).
A crowd gathered to watch, and about 100 people, including women and children, gave a hand to haul the yacht into the sea. She went in stern first, sliding over timber placed to prevent damage to the hull.
The fishing research vessel Hakua Nui was standing by with her engine idling, and a hawser attached to the Trendaway. The yacht, badly damaged by the stranding and the action of the timber rollers, was towed to safety in Avatiu harbour. After she has been made sufficiently seaworthy it is hoped to sail her to Suva for slipping and repairs.
Trendaway left San Francisco with Norman Baylay, Vincent Burgett, and another man on board. She called at the Galapagos Islands and Nukuhiva in the Marquesas. Then came Papeete, where the third man left and was replaced by Jim Peterson.
Calls were next made at Moorea, Raiatea and Bora Bora. Christopher Duncan, from Devon, joined Trendaway at Bora Bora. He is emigrating to New Zealand by sign ing on as crew of various yachts.
Trendaway left Bora Bora on February 13, battled a storm en route to Rarotonga on the 17th and 18th and was wrecked the fol
lowing night.-