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ePaper created 2014-06-11, 13:05:34 | version 1.30.01
156 We were preparing to drop our chute. Prion was just behind John Taylor on Paprika. John seemed to be going too close to the rock trying to keep inside me. Rather than try to get by any closer to the mark I took what I thought was the safe option around a boat lengthorsooutsidePaprika.WRONG! Weweretotallyunawareof themassof rocktotheeastandaswecrashedintotheknob,we watched John scoot around inside and ahead,unscathed. The look on John’s face as we hit still remains.His first thought must have been,we’re next,but he sailed straight through the gap and off. My son David, then 7-8 years old maybe (he was ship’s mascot ), was sitting in the companion way and was thrown through the cabin and up to mid saloon by the force of the crash.AndyTaylor,who was crewing with me at the time,had had his arms around the shrouds when we hit and came away with some pretty serious bruising to his arms. We bounced over the brick, dropped the chute and left the jib down while the damage was inspected. No sign of damage came the call from the underfloor inspection so,as a precaution we sailed back under main and opened a beer and licked our various wounds. When the drinks movement officer went below for the second round of beers he returned to the cockpit to announce that the water was over the cabin sole and lapping the bunks, “Could we help please?“ I have heard the expression that four men going down with buckets are more effective than a bilge pump and this day I understood why.The bucket brigade leapt in to action and we baled the whole way back to Mansion House having dropped the main and started the motor to de-stress the keel area. Luckily the tide was high when we arrived at Mansion House and the wharf was clear so we were able to run Prion up on to the beach beside the wharf and lash the ship to the wharf so we could inspect the damage at low tide. Once we were secure attention turned to the crew morale and some consumption of beer followed. There was much concern on the day about the welfare of Jim Davern who had sustained serious injury in his own hit on Flat Rock. I recall as the evening went on that we received numerous visitors from the Stewart 34 fleet, notably Bill Miller leading a seemingly endless group of well-wishers and advice givers. As the beers took their toll, I recall the number 19 being mentioned as the number jammed into poor old Prion. It was one hell of a hooly. Formypart,Iwasluckytohavetheadviceof RichardWilsonwhojoinedmeinthemiddleof thenighttoinspectandhopefullyrepair thedamage.HecameupwithsomeplystripsandsomeSikkawhichwenailedoverthecracksinthebottomtostemsomeof theflow of water.Prionhadbeenstripplankedwhichwasfineexceptthatthekeelfloorsterminatedallataboutthesamepointeachsideof the centre line. The result of the collision with the Rock was that basically the bottom tore along the dotted line. The floors should have been alternated in length to prevent this.Great to have hindsight! Assoonaswefloatedoff,weheadedforHalf MoonBayandanemergencylift.Thebilgepumpkeptupwell,thetemporaryrepairhad been a good one.Most of the crew spent the trip back regretting the decision to have ever taken drink but thankful to be in one piece. WeweredulyliftedoutatHalf MoonBayandPeterMillenandmyinsurancecompanydidagreatjobmakingPrionstructurallybetter than she ever had been before. Needless to say,any time I have raced around that rock since it has received a very wide berth and I bet JohnTaylor has never been so close since either.” In 1986 Prion was purchased by the partnership of Bill Falconer,Chris McGregor-McDonald,Keith Chappell & Nick Hay. Bill Falconer had been very involved in the Stewart Owners Association, including holding the office of President. He raced Prion regularly,mostly with the Ponsonby Cruising Club,while the other owners used her primarily for cruising. Falconer writes the story of the loss of Prion: “Nick and Keith leftWesthaven on 23 March 2003 to go to the Furuno Fishing Contest where they used her for a mother ship. Left at dusk with an easterly of 25 knots blowing. Got toTiri & set course towards a light. They thought they were going to Martello but instead were heading straight towards Motukitekite. Sailing fast. Both non-drinkers so decided to make a cup of tea. Never checked on chart as to progress or location. Never logged in with Coast Guard as they assumed they could get cell phone coverage. They hit the island at full speed directly under the light. Dropped sail,started motor to try to back off. Tried to call up Coast Guard but boat already going down. This at about 10 p.m. A boat going up to the Furuno saw them hit & radioed up Coast Guard who had a big