Brothers had to swim for survival

For David and Robert Sime from Masterton, a trip to check the crayfish pots off the Wairarapa coast nearly ended in tragedy. MARK PACEY writes in his occasional series highlighting local shipwrecks.

Brothers David and Robert Sime set out from Castlepoint at 3pm on 14 September 1966 onboard the 28-foot Wellington-registered trawler Matira II, of which David had a major share. He had 15 years’ experience as a fisherman and had been crayfishing fulltime for two years. This was meant to be a straightforward trip to see if they had any crays in their pots in an area south of Castlepoint. But it did not go to plan.

About 15 kilometres from Castlepoint and 800 metres off shore, they were motoring to one of the craypot buoys when the engine stalled. The swells were pushing the Matira II around, even after they dropped anchor. The engine remained obstinate and refused to restart and the Sime brothers found themselves in a bit of a predicament. A large wave then crashed overt the Matira II and she tipped end over end in the surf and capsized. Robert was thrown into the sea when the trawler turned over and surfaced alongside. David was nowhere to be seen.

Underneath the overturned Matira II, David was in trouble. He was pinned against rocks and was also entangled in netting and ropes. Finally, he found a rope that he knew was attached to a wheel on the side of the vessel, and pulled himself along it. After over a minute under the stricken vessel, he finally surfaced.

‘I was pretty worried - I didn’t think I was going to get out’ he later recalled.

Floating alongside the capsized Matira II the two brothers started the swim to shore which was still several hundred metres away. Reaching the beach, they watched as the Matira II followed them in, struck a rock and came to rest, still upside down. They then began the long walk to Castlepoint. Despite all they had been through, their only injuries were minor cuts. A miracle considering how the scenario could have played out.

David was undeterred by the event. Despite the loss of his vessel and a near-drowning experience, he still had a strong love for the sea. He told the papers that he planned to acquire another boat and ger out again as soon as possible.

The Matira II was beyond saving. The vessel’s engine, a Chrysler marine model with a value of £200, and the gearbox, were both recovered from the wreck. But the hull was very badly damaged. The cabin had been torn off and was lying 90 metres from the main wreck. The hull of the Matira II had a broken back and one side smashed in.

Questions were then raised about maritime safety and if the Sime brothers had done all they could during their time of crisis.

The authorities said that all vessels should have lifejackets and flares on board as well as a good radio.

They had clearly not understood the speed at which the Matira II accident had happened. The Matira II did have two good walkie-talkies, one was in Masterton getting repaired.

Both brothers were wearing lifejackets, but they had been unable to find any flares to purchase before they headed out. The sea can change in a heartbeat, as the Sime brothers discovered, and sometimes having safety equipment would make no difference to the outcome. David summed it up perfectly:

“Neither flares nor radio would have helped this time because the capsize happened too fast for any help to arrive.

“The only thing which could have helped would have been a new motor. Nobody could have got there in time after the motor refused to restart.”

Robert was thrown into the sea when the trawler turned over and surfaced alongside. David was nowhere to be seen.