OIMARA ARRIVES.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 53, 4 March 1931, Page 8

OIMARA ARRIVES.

TRIP FROM WELLINGTON.

AUSTRALIAN YACHT

LITTLE PROSPECT OF RACE.

The world is getting smaller. The iar corners are drawing closer together. A little while ago a man flew across the Tasman by himself. Now a small nineton ketch-rigged yacht, the Oimara, from Melbourne, has done the same thing; and the crew of the little vessel, which arrived at Auckland from Wellington last night, seem to have taken the journey, so to speak, in their stride. Ihe yacht's trip up the coast was not so different from its voyage across the Tasman. The Oimara left Wellington at 11.30 on Friday, and made Auckland exactly four days seven hours later. With a strong southerly following, they made use of the square foresail, and ran for 36 hours. While a square rig is unusual in a yacht, its advantages are many in the open sea. -There is no fear of the vessel jibing, and also it holds her steady. The run up the coast under the foresail was the best yet experienced.

From right out near Tiri the yacht was escorted in by the launch Nyria, which had on board Mr. L. Heard, president of the Akarana Yacht Club, Mr. F. W. Jeffers, commodore of the club, Mr. W. H. Howell, vice-conunodore, and Mr. W. A. Ure, secretary. The Oimara was piloted up the harbour by Mr. E. Edgeeumbe, a member of the same club. The Oimara drew into the wharf area about 8 o'clock and berthed at the Central wharf. There she was met by Mr. J. C. Hewson, secretary of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The evening was spent at the rooms of the Squadron Club, where the company was welcomed by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon.

The Crew—a Happy Family. A happy family is perhaps the best description of the crew. When they were interviewed this morning they were having a belated breakfast, and any Aucklander who has been away cruising at all will know what sort of a meal it was—a great deal of food and a great lack of form. Captain F. J. Bennell, a dentist from Melbourne, known to his friends as "Doc," probably on account of the fact that he is a doctor of philosophy, is the owner of the craft, and with him are Captain H. J. Svmonds, a professional seaman, who is navigator and skipper, LieutenantCommander W. C'. Juler, late of the Australian division of the Royal Navy, and Mr. F. S. Bennell, son of Captain Bennell. The yacht carried a wireless operator on the way across the Tasman, Mr. A. B. Monks, late of the British Wireless Marine Service, but he left the vessel on arrival at Wellington to return to Australia. The Oimara kept in constant touch with home while oil the way over. They are not particularly troubled about securing the services of an operator going back. "If he can cook, if he can look after the engine—the Oimara is an nuxiliary—if he is handy on deck," said one of the crew, "then we'll take him—but we won't wait half an hour for him!" "Blazed the Trail." "They are nibbling at the idea," said Captain Bennell, referring to the notion of an ocean race across the Tasman, "but it is not likely to eventuate for some time." However, his party had shown that the trip was possible without undue risk. They had, so to speak, blazed the trail. So far he had not met anyone who offered any prospects of a race back to Australia. The plans of the party are not fixed. They were the guests of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron at lunch, and of the Mayor, this afternoon. They think they will be in Auckland about a week.

By a coincidence the Oimara is lying near the Teddy, tlie Norwegian yacht which has crossed the world. The skippers of both eraft have already become acquainted.