AUCKLAND TO DUBLIN.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 224, 20 September 1924, Page 6

AUCKLAND TO DUBLIN.

IN 12-TON YACHT. ; ; SAOIRSE SAILS SHORTLY. > HOME ROUND THE HORN. ', *T left Ireland with the express pur, pose of climbing Mount Cook, and now. that I have failed my one object is to return home again," said Captain Conor O'Brien, skipper of the 12-ton Irish yacht Saoirsc, which will shortly bid. farewell to New Zealand and set out on her long homeward voyage to Dublin. "Yes," he said, "it's hard to come mora than 14,000 miles across the ocean and then fail to accomplish what you set out to do." Captain O'Brien then went on ■to explain that it was what hap-, pened when the yacht was at Cap*, town on her outward voyage that ruined the trip as far as he was concerned. 0» arrival at the Cape he went ashore for the purpose of climbing Table Mountain and getting his "land legs," in readiness for the mountaineering he proposed carrying out in New Zealand. The work;, of preparing the yacht for the remainder of her voyage was left in the hands of the mate and the cook, and that neither, proved up to his job was proved by what happened subsequently. When rounding the' Cape the little vessel's steering gear failed; while the water supply became . j inadequate for the long voyage to Australia. In consequence Captain O'Brien headed the Saiorse for Durban, which port, owing to unfavourable winds, was not reached until a fortnight after leaving: Capetown. At Durban the skipper lost his crew, and it was not until a month after arrival that a new: complement was secured and a course shaped for Melbourne. After a more or - less adventurous voyage the yacht arrived at Auckland in June of the present year, too late for her captain to do any mountaineering. Since then she lias visited the Islands, a new crew Being shipped at Nukualofa. For the homeward voyagn Captain O'Brien expects to have with him as a crew two Ajicklanders and one of the two islanders signed on iat Nukualofa. Questioned as to his route home tho" •skipper said that on leaving Auckland

his first port of call will be Port Stanley (Falkland Islands). Provided that every- ■ thing on board is in order he intends proceeding thence to Dublin direct. There is a possibility that the yacht will also touch Pernambuco. When the yacht can be expected at Dublin cannot bo stated with any degree of certainty, but her captain considers that she will ba doing well if she averages 1000 miles per week. The outward voyage occupied nearly twelve months, tout the actual number of days the vessel was at sea was only 157. To the casual observer the Saiori. (which, by the way, is pronounced Scershe) appears almost ridiculously small to set sail for Ireland. Viewed recently on the patent slip, with an Islander arrayed in a shabby hard hat

leisurely painting her hull, she appeared little different to the numerous pleasure, yachts which surrounded her. ' On closer examination, however, she proves mora sturdily built, although lacking, perhaps, the graceful lines of the racer. The Saoirse was designed by her captain for cruising about the rocky Irish coast, and was not intended for a long distance cruiser. Although naturally proud of his stout little ship, Captain O'Brien admits that she is not really .suitable for a long cruise, being too short to permit of fast travelling. Despite this fact she .is thoroughly seaworthy, as was proved by the way she behaved when she encountered very rough weather soon after losing the shelter of tha Irish coast. Tha yacht's saloon is surprisingly roomy, and is a picture of tidiness. Oil paintings, the work of the captain's brother, adorn the walls, and give the cabin aa unusual air of homeliness. Everything is now in readiness for tha return voyage, and Captain O'Brien is only awaiting the delivery of a set of sails before bidding farewell to ~SeW, Zealand. j