UNFIT TO SAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 225, 23 September 1933, Page 10

UNFIT TO SAIL.

HOME-BUILT YACHT.

WORLD CRUISE ABANDONED. CRAFT DECLARED UNSUITABLE (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) OI'OTIKI, this day. The yacht which was built by Mr. Stanley Ward at Motu, between Gisboinc and Opotiki, with a view to sailing round the world, has been declared unsuitable for ocean sailing. The youthful builder lias temporarily abandoned his plan to make an extended cruise in her, but will probably build a stronger vessel at a later date. Three years ago Mr. Ward, who is an electrician by trade, decided that lie would make a world cruise. Having no money, he realised that it he was to have a boat he would have to build it himself. A breakdown in health caused Tiim to move to Motu, 52 miles inland from Gisborue, and it was not until nine months ago that he started to build his boat. At that time he had only but lie secured odd jobs from people who knew of his ambition, and all the money he earned went into his boat. With no previous knowledge of boatbuilding, no plans, and no books to

guide him, he designed bis craft as he built it. The only tools that lie possessed were those that can be seen in the camp of any bush carpenter.

The building of tlie boat in the hill country was one problem, and the transport of tlie craft through the Waioeka Gorge to Opotiki about two months ago was another. <>n two occasions during the long journey to tlie coast all Air. Ward's persevering labour was almost undone. The yacht was lifted oil to a trailer, which was bolted to the back of a motor lorry, and the journey begun. At tlie bottom of the big hill that leads to the Waioeka Gorge it was discovered that the heavy bolt securing the trailer to the lorry had become badly bent. If the climb had been commenced before the trailer had been again secured, tlie boat would almost certainly have crashed down the hillside. A second lorry was necessary to pull the trailer up the steep hill, and near the summit the tow rope became tangled, and again disaster was narrowly' averted. In getting the trailer round a bad bend at the bottom of the gorge minor damage was done to the boat, but after a trying journey of eleven hours Opotiki was safely reached.

With a crew of four' in all, Mr. Ward intended to sail in the early spring from Opbtiki for England by way of Great Barrier Island, Norfolk Island, and the Suez Canal.