BAD SEAMANSHIP.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVIII, Issue 269, 12 November 1937, Page 13

BAD SEAMANSHIP.

SYDNEY YACHTSMEN.

COMMENT BY OFFICERS.

DANGER OF COIJUSIONS.

MELBOURNE, November 4. A lot of Sydney harbour yachtsmen did not know the first thing about sailing, said two officers of the inter-State motorship Manunda. Tfle officers were commenting on an incident in which three of the crew of the yacht Rona, fearing a collision with the Manunda, leapt overboard. Sydney yachtsmen's seamanship was so bad that if they were not more careful in the future they were likely to be involved in serious collisions with big ships in the harbour, it was stated. The officers were scathing in their criticism of the seamanship" displayed by the crew of the Bona. They said that the yacht was seen from the ship when it was almost 100 yards ahead. One blast was blown on the ship's siren, to indicate that she was changing course to starboard, but "* apparently the yachtsmen were ignorant of the meaning of this navigation signal. Instead of sailing out of harm's way, the yacht tacked across the bow of the ship. The officers said the yachtsmen did not seem to understand that a 10,000ton ship could not be pulled up like a motor car. Skipper's Reply. "The Manunda did not change her course by one iota as she bore down on us," said Mr. A. L. Schultz, skipper of the Rona. "I have reported the matter to the port authorities. Quite definitely, I did not hear any blast from the Manunda. If I had, I would have known its meaning, but I could have done nothing about "The Rona had just steerage way only, and there was not sufficient wind for us to make any move. "The Manunda may have slowed down, but she passed us at a great speed, and by the time we had been picked up from the water, she was halfway through the Heads.

"For the comments on Sydney's harbour yachtsmen, I have only the contempt they deserve."