Yacht Aground in Heavy Seas

Drama in Storm at Hick's Bay

A two-hour dash along the coast, from East Cape to Hick's Bay, ended in safety for Dr Harvey Morgan, his wife, and their eight-month-old son Jonathan, on June 5. After their yacht struck a rock, water began pouring into the 35-foot "Tana." With self-steenng operating, the doctor and his wife baled out continually, sent May Day calls, attended to the baby, and fought their way north-east in the teeth of the storm. Eventually they grounded in heavy surf on the beach at Hick's Bay and, in a six-foot dinghy, managed to get through the breakers to shore. This was the second time the yacht had been aground in the trip around New Zealand, the first being in January north of Patea.

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The grounded yacht in Hick's Bay.

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Mr Ian McGregor, Michael Phelps and his grandfather Mr Des Phelps are pictured alongside the tiny dinghy which brought the Morgans to safety.

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The yacht was lifted up from the beach by an Auckland salvage team on the Sunday and later brought to Gisborne by one of Mr Des Phelp's trucks.