RETURN OF YACHT ILEX

Press, Volume LXXXIII, Issue 25088, 21 January 1947, Page 3

RETURN OF YACHT ILEX

WELCOME BY HARBOUR CRAFT FAST TRIP MADE FROM AUSTRALIA (P.A.) WELLINGTON, January 20. Advised by radio of the time of arrival, a fleet of harbour craft met the Ilex, which entered the boat harbour in beautiful weather on Saturday afternoon after a seven-weeks’ voyage of 4000 miles to and from Australia and participation in the Sydney-Ho-bart ocean yacht race. The return trip was n\ade in the fast time of 8 days 22 hours, the engine being used on occasions. Replying to congratulatory speeches, the skipper (Mr N. W. Thomas) said the boat had proved a staunch one and the crew a fine team. Wear and tear on equipment were severe, and all running gear had to be renewed. A wonderful reception was given by the Hobart people when the Ilex arrived there. Even strangers brought offerings such as cream cakes and fresh vegetables. Mr Thomas said his return crew comprised Carl Johnson (first mate), who served his time in sail and proved a first-class navigator; lan Newlands, a good seaman, who had been a fighter pilot and then a prisoner of war in Japan for three and a half years; Burnell, a young sailor from Pitcairn Island, where he represented the fifth generation from one of the original mutineers of the Bounty; “Terry” Hammond, 19-year-old student, who joined the Ilex at Hobart; and Roy den Thomas, 13-year-old son of the skipper.

Mr Thomas, whose career as a yachtsman has been short but full of incident, said he felt able to settle down now and take things easy.