UNDER SAIL.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 51, 29 February 1940, Page 8

UNDER SAIL.

FINNISH BARQUE.

MAJESTIC HARBOUR SIGHT.

TWO AUCKLANDERS ABOARD.

With her sails billowing under a light breeze to give her way against an outgoing tide, the Finnish steel barque Pennng sailed up the harbour in the early hours of tliie morning and dropped anchor in the stream. First skip to enter the harbour under her own sails for 12 years, the Pennng made a majestic sight as she moved slowly through the growing light.

The ill-fated Olivelnnk, mined in the North Sea shortly after the outbreak of the war, was the last ship to enter port under her own sails. Like the Penang, she was a unit of the famous fleet owned by Captain Gustar Eriksson. When the Penang berthed at King's wharf this morning she had a pronounced list, caused by her cargo of fiiano moving during a fierce storm south of Australia. Four New Zealandcrs. On board are two Aucklaudcra, Mr. E. J. Pepper, brother of Sergeant C S. Pepper, former All Black, uiid Mr. D. W. Galloway. They have been members of. the crew since the ship last visited Xew Zealand in March, 1938. and they intend coming ashore at Auckland. When the Penang sailed from Xew Zealand two years ago. she loaded wheat in Australia ami sailed for England, but was caught by a sudden squall when under full sail in tho South Pacific, lost her mainmast una hart tiie foremast broken in two places. The ship limped into Port Chalmers and two months later resumed her voyage, reachiug London after 120 days. Her cre-w had Inciikted. in addition to Messrs. Pepper and Galloway, U. Xμpier, of Xapier, and A. Williams, of Cambridge. Napier left at Sydney with the intention of walking round 'the world, but got no further than North Queensland when he had to return to New Zealand for family reasons. Williams continued to England, where he signed off, and is now a member of a pipe band in France. Woman Aboard. After discharging in England the Penang laid up in Sweden for five months, then received orders to pick up a cargo of sulphite at Middlebrongh, England. It was lierc that Miss Winifred Lloyd joined the ship's company, signing on as assistant sailmaker. Miss Lloyd has been in sailing ships for five years, having landed in England only last October after making a voyage under sail from Australia.

The sulphite was discharged at Mauritius, and the Penang sailed to Madagascar, where she received orders to pick up guano at the email island of Juan de Nova, in the Mozambique Channel, off the east coast of Africa.

The trip to Auckland occupied 09 days, and, with the exception of two storms, was without incident. When in 50 degrees latitude south of Tasmania a blow started from astern, and although the Penang attempted to run away from it the wind increased to gale force, with mountainous seas. Under bare masts the ship was battered by the waves, a huge sea smashing the wheel and staving in the skylight over the cabin occupied by the master, Captain K. V. Karbson. At the height of the storm the cargo shifted, and although an attempt was made to trim it there was still a pronounced list when the ship made port.

Under Bare Masts. The Penang also struck the edge of the cyclone that swept over the North Island during the week-end. The ship was then 200 miles north-west of Auckland, and had to take all sail off.

Although all the members of the crew, with the exception of the New .Zealanders and Miss Lloyd, are Finns, the language of the ship is Swedish. It was etated that the registry port.of the Penang ie the. island of Aaland which, though under Finnish sovereignty, is Sweding-speaking. Furthermore most or the coastal Finns speak Swedish. On occasions eonte of the members of the crew spoke Finnish among themselves.

Although news on board was rare, the members of the crew took the greatest interest in politic* and im tfe»

struggle their country was making against Russia. 'Most of them had relatives and friends concerning whom they had had little or no news.

Eager For News. An incident related by Mr. Pepper served to ehow the tierce interest in home new* displayed by the erew. When near the "New Zealand "coast the captain of a email boat threw aboard a newspaper and after it had been read by the officers it reached the Xew Zealanders. "Of course, we turned first to theatre advertisements to sec what pictures were showing and we were ucarly mobbed by the crew," he said.

Miss Lloyd, looking most efficient in ii suit of overalls, was in Auckland 10 yeurs ago. During mi adventurous life she has worked in California. Hudson Bay and on a Xew Zealand sheep farm, and «he was a member of the crew of the Olivobank on a trip from Australia. As soon as the Pennng liertlied at King's wharf Mi*s Lloyd made an eager search for the name of the Olivcbank which, like that of a number of other sailing ship*. «h« had been tokl, wae paiuted on the wharf.