The Wahine Disaster. By Lambert, Max & Hartley, Jim. 1st edition hardback

The Wahine Disaster. By Lambert, Max & Hartley, Jim

Hardcover, near fine condition, dust jacket scuffed, chipped, and closed tears to edges. Publisher: A.H. & A.W. Reed 1969

In the early hours of 10 April 1968, the 8,948 ton ferry Wahine struck Barret's reef on its regular crossing of Cook Strait, between New Zealand's north and south islands. Fifty-one lives were lost, the miracle being that it could have been much worse considering the atrocious conditions. It was to be New Zealand's worst maritime disaster since the loss of the Wairarapa in 1894, when 121 lives were lost. From the fly: Cook Strait, separating the North and South Islands of New Zealand, is an area of high winds and strong tidal currents. In the fiercer gales the seas run high and flying spray may reduce visibility to zero. The passage from the strait into Wellington Harbour is narrow. In the very entrance lies Barrett Reef a chain of jagged rocks that reduce the main channel to a width of three quarters of a mile. In severe storm conditions ships leaving or entering the harbour exercise extreme caution: the Pencarrow coast has taken a heavy toll. Despite this the regular ferry services plying between Wellington and the southern ports had run with commendable safety and regularity for 80 years and more.