Nautical News

After being becalmed, battered by mountainous seas, and left to drift across the Pacific with their sails and food gone and their motor and radio out of action, the three-man crew of the 40ft American cutter, Jinni, considered it a miracle when they sighted Mt Hikurangi last month. A day later they made their first landfall in 19 days, at Tokomaru Bay, when they were towed to port by the Gisborne trawler Sea Harvest. After having their first good meal for a week, provided by Mr and Mrs Jim Tagg, they sailed down to Gisborne to carry out repairs to their yacht.

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The Jinni tied up at the Tokomaru Bay wharf.

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The crew, from left, are: Reems Mitchell (skipper), David Guttenbual (crew), and Jim Harrold (navigator). (Pictures by Frank Wynne-Jones).

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The 63ft French trawler Physalie joined the Gisborne fishing fleet recently after sailing across the world from France, via the Panama Canal. Crewing the vessel were several British migrants who plan to settle in New Zealand. The Physalie is to be used for tuna fishing in the summer, and for trawling at other times.