While most of the class were at choir this morning the rest of the class had a chat about the Titanic. This then led me to ask the class if they knew about the Wahine Disaster. The Wahine was an inter-island ferry that travelled from Christchurch to Wellington.
According to Te Ara:
'On the morning of 10 April 1968 a tropical cyclone sweeping south met a southerly front, producing freak winds of up to 125 knots around Cook Strait. The Christchurch–Wellington ferry Wahine was driven onto Barrett Reef, at the entrance to Wellington Harbour.
Its starboard propeller was knocked off in collision with the reef, and its port engine was out of action. The 8,948-ton vessel drifted into the harbour before leaning to starboard. Because of the heavy list, only four of the eight lifeboats could be launched, and most of the inflatable life rafts flipped in the savage seas.
The Wahine finally capsized at 2.30 p.m. Most deaths occurred on the Eastbourne side of the harbour, where people were driven against sharp rocks by the waves. Of the 734 passengers and crew, 51 died.'
Here are a couple of youtube videos that you can watch to find out more information:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VlcA1dQWw14
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9l4MjqplpQ&feature=related
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