Children died first Makogai sank in cyclone-churned seas

DEATH struck minutes after the Government cutter Makogai sank in cyclone-churned seas between Fulaga and Namuka-i-Lau.

The first victims were two children strapped to their mothers’ backs with lifebelts.

The cutter’s skipper, Captain Suliasi Kudruvi, 24, spoke to The Fiji Times about Makogai’s final moments.

Makogai, with her crew of nine and 16 passengers including four children, sailed from Fulaga for Namuka-i-Lau at 5.30am on December 10, in peaceful seas and without warning of the approaching Cyclone Lottie.

“About 8.30 I looked out and saw this black mass making towards the boat,” the skipper said in The Fiji Times of Wednesday, December 19, 1973.

“The wind was spinning the spray around in circles like a whirlwind.

“The sea was churned up so much that the waves were higher than the boat and with the driving rain visibility was nil.”

“I have been sailing eight years now and have been in winds reaching 40 to 50 knots, but I have never seen anything like this in my life.”

Captain Kudruvi said as soon as the storm hit he warned his crew to be on standby and everyone was handed a life jacket.

“In the meantime, I tried to get Suva, but the aerial mast was snapped off about 8.40am.”

The cutter stayed afloat in the wild seas as waves broke over her while her skipper forged into the cyclone.

“The winds were so strong that I couldn’t control the cutter with her rudder. She was just like a matchbox in a violent sea.”

At 11am, the ship could take no more and capsized after a giant wave hit her.