YAWL’S LONG TRIP

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25084, 16 January 1947, Page 4

YAWL’S LONG TRIP

SIXTEEN DAYS FROM NAPIER TO AUCKLAND “ The Press ” Special Service AUCKLAND, January 15. After a voyage from Napier lasting 16 days, during which her >whereabouts were unknown for several days, the 33ft yawl Te Rapunga arrived in Auckland yesterday afternoon. Sailed by owner, Mr George Dibbern, the Te Rapunga encountered alternate head winds and flat calms throughout the whole trip, causing her to be too late to compete with the 31ft doubleended cutter Drifter in the fourth Tasman yacht race. The Drifter sailed alone for Hobart on Saturday, and the race was abandoned at noon yesterday, after 48 hours had expired. “There was either too much wind or too little,’’ was Mr Dibbern’s comment on the trip. “Naturally; I am disappointed at not being able to start in the race, but it will give me time to refit the yacht completely.” Leaving Napier on December 28, the Te Rapunga was almost to East Cape when serious leaks, which made it necessary to bail her every 10 minutes, forced her to turn back to-Gis-borne. The hull was caulked at Gisborne and the voyage was resumed on January 2. Strong head winds were encountered up to East Cape, followed by two days of flat calm, during which the yawl scarcely made any way. These conditions alternated throughout the trip, until the Te Rapunga arrived at Matiatia late on Monday night. With Mr Dibbern are Miss Eileen Morris, of Napier, a 15-year-old boy.

Randal Clare, who is a member of the Gisborne Yacht Club, and Messrs Grant Lowe and A. Straher. Mr Dibbern said that he would refit the yawl and, if regulations allowed, he would cruise to Rarotonga.