DARING VOYAGERS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 57, 8 March 1932, Page 9

DARING VOYAGERS.

ELAINE REACHES SUVA,

SAILING TO CALIFORNIA

KETCH CREW'S ADVENTURES.

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

SYDNEY, March 3.

Two thrilling stories of tlie seas, both having local application, were told when, this week, Fiji welcomed Fred Rebelle in the 18ft half-deck sailing boat Elaine, and Messrs. D. Macpherson and R. M. Malley reached Port Darwin, North Australia, in the 20-ton ketch Jewasenyi, from Penang. Rebelle, who left Sydney on December 31 on a single-handed voyage to California, U.S.A., had no clearance papers and no passports when he reached Suva, and his navigation instruments consisted of a liome-mado sextant, a pocket compass, a watch and a Universal chart. He had had a particularly torrid passage from Sydney, and had not spoken a single vessel during the whole voyage. His call at Suva was made for fresh water, coconuts and bananas. On the stretch between Sydney and Fiji his boat's centreboard was smashed in heavy weather, and the little craft sprang a leak, which kept him busy all the way, and will necessitate immediate repairs. Born in Russia, Mr. Rebelle is a masterbuilder, and lived in various Australian cities fcir many years. He obtained the idea of sailing" to California a couple of years ago. He prefers his own company, and his little craft is a marvel of compactness and home-made efficiency. His next main port of call will be Honolulu. Political Deportees on Board. Messrs. Macpherson and Malley were fired with the spirit of adventure, and bought their ketch at Penang, which they had visited partly for a holiday and partly to investigate prospects of trade expansion. Early in their trip back to Darwin they became involved in international complications. Soon after leaving Dilli, Timor, they fell in with a boat carrying 19 Portuguese political deportees, who were rescucd and taken aboard.

The deportees had escaped from their political prison, and immediately took charge of the ketch on their own behalf. Tlio owners hoisted a distress signal, and a Dutch vessel came to their aid in I the nick of time, relieved them of their "guests," and restocked them with provisions. Macpherson and Malley called at many islands, as well as investigating trade prospects in Australian goods in more densely populated centres, and they claim'that there are many excellent opportunities for trade between Malaya, the Islands and Australia. 1 hey will bring their ketch south and place their reports before the Chambers of commerce in the various Eastern States.