Hearts fail in the cruel sea

A historic New Zealand boat is drifting off the west coast after its crew abandoned it in a New Year storm.

The five men on the 13m launch Ruamano, among them the former medical director of the Heart Foundation, Boyd Swinburn, scrambled to the safety of a log carrier headed for Inchon, in South Korea.

The log ship is unable to turn back to bring them home.

The Maritime Safety Authority questioned the need to abandon the historic launch, built in 1925 and believed at the time to be the first vessel to circumnavigate the country since Captain Cook.

Director Russell Kilvington said the vessel was not in a life-threatening situation.

The crew appeared to have simply had enough, and lack of experience may have been a factor.

"They bit off a bit more than they could chew."

The Ruamano, built by Alf Court, who made his fortune from the Courts department store on Queen St, was on a cruise to raise money for the Heart Foundation and re-create its maiden circumnavigation of New Zealand.

But on New Year's Eve the crew radioed for help in rough seas and abandoned ship early yesterday, leaving the Ruamano with its engine running and 30 hours of fuel on board.

Last night, an air search for the launch was called off.

Crew member Stephen Blackwell, aged 40, was nearly crushed between the Ruamano and the log ship as he tried to scramble on board.

The Aucklander's great grandfather, Alf Court, had taken the launch on the same route 75 years before.

But Mr Blackwell's dream ended at 4.30 am yesterday, 100 miles off the west coast of the North Island.

The Korean log carrier New Laurel responded to a distress call and diverted from its course to pick up the five crew.

Cargo nets were slung over the ship's side for them to scramble up when they jumped off the launch.

Mr Blackwell jumped but lost his grip on the thick rope netting and fell between the two vessels, Dr Swinburn said yesterday.

"It was an extremely dangerous situation. He could have been crushed or swept away.

"But one of the Korean crew threw him a lifebelt on a rope and Stephen managed to get into it, and he was pulled up over the side of the ship.

"We are disappointed the trip has ended this way and sad for Sefton losing his boat, but every one is safe and well."

The Ruamano, skippered and owned by Sefton Powrie, an experienced sailor, ran into swells up to 6m and winds of up to 45 knots during a run down the west coast from North Cape to New Plymouth.

Dr Swinburn said the rescue came nearly 40 hours after they left the shelter of North Cape.

"The old girl was holding up well but conditions were getting worse. Several of the crew were flattened by seasickness."

Dr Swinburn said there were more anxious moments when it came to Mr Powrie's turn to jump on to the net.

Mr Powrie had the launch under power so it could keep close to the Korean ship in the 4m swells and high winds.

When his turn came, Mr Powrie drove the launch into the side of the ship and jumped out through an opening in the Ruamano's flying bridge and leaped for the rescue net.

The New Laurel is expected to arrive in South Korea with the five men on January 18.

Other crew were Malcolm Reynolds and John Green, both aged 50, from Remuera.

Shelley Green spoke to her husband twice yesterday and said he was tired and "still in a bit of shock."



Robyn Reynolds did not believe her husband when he rang her at 5.45 am yesterday to tell her what had happened.

"I said, 'Malcolm, you're in New Plymouth,' then I realised there was the echo down the line."



Marine historian Bill Laxon said the Ruamano was seaworthy and he was surprised it had been abandoned - "I would have thought a launch like that could survive those sorts of conditions if it was properly handled."

Conditions were often rough on the West Coast.

"It's a commentary on the standard of the crew rather than the fitness of the boat."

Dr Swinburn said he was not sure how he and his friends would spend their next 17 days - "We think we might teach some of the other guys to play bridge."

Mike Austin, a marine surveyor hired by the boat's owners to coordinate an air search, said late last night that he had been unable to find the Ruamano. There was no point continuing the air search without a definite idea of where to look.

He had to rely on the boat's being spotted by other vessels or picked up by an independent salvor.

"There may very well be some enterprising person who wants to go on looking and they may come up with something."