ACROSS THE TASMAN.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 103, 5 May 1926, Page 10

ACROSS THE TASMAN.

IN YACHT PSYCHE.

BUFFETED BY GALES,

CAPTAIN TOWNSEND'S STORY. Captain F. C. Townsend, who was in charge of the ten ton yacht Psyche on her recent exciting trip from Wellington to Sydney, arrived at Auckland by this morning's Main Trunk express. In an interview, Captain Townsend, who is well known in this city, said that though the Psyche was hove-to for fortyeight hours on account of mountainous seas she rode the waves well, and he was much pleased with the way the yacht behaved. He would be willing to make a similar voyage at any time.. The captain's one regret is that the' yacht failed to break the record for a sailing vessel for the trip. He. maintained that had favourable weather been experienced the Psyche would have accomplished this end. The yacht left Wellington on April 3, and was so badly buffeted in Cook Straits that she was compelled to put into 'Pjcton for repairg, the electric lighting system having been put out of commission by a huge sea which broke over

the little vessel. After leaving Picton the yacht was forced to seek shelter for two days in Ship Cove, but for the first four days of the run across the Tasman fair winds were experienced. "When in a position approximately 158deg. east and 50deg. south the yacht encountered the worst weather met with, on the voyage. For four days she was beset by a hard gale, which blew from south-west to west, there being a heavy head sea. Hove-to under a small fore-staysail, the yacht made absolutely no progress and was taken a long way out of her course by the south-west current. On one occasion she was set back thirty miles in twenty-four hours. Finally, when the weather moderated, the Psyche was able to complete her voyage. The Psyche, which is owned by Mr. G. H. Jackson, was built at Picton in 1915. She is to he used as a pleasure yacht on Sydney Harbour.