Bsip Bosun’S

Night Of

Adventube

In Cyclone

Syrillo Niniu, 19-year-old

bosun of the 25 ft Solomon Islands cutter Simon Gala, is a man with a story to tell

these days.

SYRILLO was swept out to sea in the Simon Gala in mid- November in the cyclone that hit Malaita, and at one stage he plunged overboard to free a fouled propeller.

He spent an hour in mountain ous seas, at times being battered against the side of the boat and at times being swept away almost out of sight of it. In the huge waves, he was sometimes higher than the mast and looking down on the boat.

The Simon Gain, which is owned by the Ganomela Fishing Co-operative, of Malaita, left Honiara for Takwa on November 12.

On board were her 4-man crew, 16 passengers and a cargo of cement. She first encountered the

cyclone at 4.30 p.m. on November 13 when the waves were some 15 ft high, and ran for shelter at Basakana Island (North Malaita), where the passengers were safely disembarked.

The cargo of cement was kept on board, and provided valuable ballast.

Syrillo decided to stay overnight at Basakana, but at 4 o’clock next morning the gale swept the vessel out to sea. Soon 30-ft high waves were breaking over the ship and the ship’s canoe was carried away —the tow rope becoming entang led in the propeller and stopping the engine.

It was at this point that Syrillo dived into the water.

It rained continuously through

out the night, and the gale was so strong at times that the ship’s mast lay almost flat on the water.

Much of the Simon Gain's equip ment, including life-jackets, life buoys and the navigation lights, was swept away.

When the canoe was washed up on Basakana, the stranded passengers feared that the ship had sunk When the storm abated, the Simon Gain, with her propeller freed, returned to Honiara under her own power for overhaul Syrillo Niniu gained his inner island bosun’s certificate in April, 1966, after a course at TS Ranadi, Kukum. • Syrillo Niniu and the cutter "Simon Galu" are pictured here by Ted Marriott.