Build Date
1922
Boat Builder
G.J.L Jukes
Length
55 Feet
Beam
Norna Sinks In Wellington
One of the largest fishing boats moored in Island Bay when she sunk in Wellington harbour only five years after being built at G.J.L Jukes boatyard in Balaena Bay. Norna was also only just leaving G.J.L Jukes boatyard after an overhaul to go back to her mooring at Island Bay when she had a spot of trouble. Norna was traveling at 6 knots in the dark with strong north-westerly’s blowing when she hit an object in the water near Barrett Reef. Norna’s bow was punctured. Her crew of three including the skipper Andrew Tait, engineer George Baxter and Jack Hunter tried to stop the leak, but it was too had so they decided to beach her. But this was easier said than done as the closest safe beach was half a mile away. Soon the engine was submerged and stopped working and less than two hours later Norna sank under the water.
The crew had spotted the Wellington-Nelson ferry Arahura leaving Wellington before they sunk and lit flares to get their attention. This was lucky as once they were in the stranded water Hunter managed to swim out to the ferry. The ferry was launching lifeboats so Hunter was brought on board and the lifeboat set off to rescue Tait and Baxter from a rock they climbed onto at Barrett Reef.
The location of their sinking meant there were many boats and people ready to rescue them. The Wellington-Lyttleton ferry Maori also launched a lifeboat to search for survivors and the lighthouse keeper at Pencarrow Lighthouse who witnessing the whole thing called the Deputy Harbour Master Captain Spence who launched the pilot vessel Arahina to help too. Reaching the Arahura, Captain Spence found all were accounted for and took the crew back to Wellington so the Arahura could continue its journey to Nelson.
Salvaging Norna
The destination of Norna’s sinking in deep water made them think she could be salvageable so a diver was sent down near where she sank to locate her on the 29 August 1927. Only the next day the floating crane Hikitia was dispatched to raise Norna. A harbour board punt was first towed out to the site by fishing boats and a diver using equipment on the punt swam down to put slings around Norna. Hikitia then slowly lifted Norna to the surface where she was secured alongside and Hikitia started the journey back to port.
They took Norna to Kings Wharf where the diver could again assess the damage, and they found a 3 feet hole in the bow. They then patched the hole, and a Wellington Harbour Board tug pumped out the water. Norna was again back to G.J.L Jukes boatyard to undergo repairs to the hull and the engine. With this work done Norna went back to work long lining in Cook Strait.
References
To research Norna we used the book Nets, Lines and Pots: a History of New Zealand Fishing Vessels Vol 2.
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