NZ yachtie tells of struggle to save mate
by Marty Sharpe, Dominion Post on 2 Sep 2008
Warren Clark "I broke the surface and there was Claudy at the back of the boat yelling out my name."
SW
After doing all he could to save his mate's life in a yachting accident, Warren Clark could only watch as his sailing companion floated away, face down.
Cold and fatigue overcame Napier businessman Mike Claudatos early on Sunday after the 12-metre racing yacht the pair were sailing lost its keel and flipped.
They left Gisborne early on Saturday in Time To Burn and weren't far from Tauranga when the boat hit what Mr Clark believes was a discarded spinnaker from another yacht.
They were sailing at more than 30kmh in an easterly wind about 20 kilometres off the coast of Mt Maunganui about 5.20am on Sunday when they felt the yacht hit something.
'We sailed for another couple of hundred metres before the boat went on its side,' Mr Clark said. 'I was inside. Mike was steering. He came inside with me.'
The yacht remained on its side for 20 to 30 minutes, during which time the men were able to fire two flares and activate radio beacons.
'Claudy got out as the boat started turning upside down. I had three attempts at getting out.
'I broke the surface and there was Claudy at the back of the boat yelling out my name.
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