Long Coastal Cruise By Auxiliary Ketch

Press, Volume XCIII, Issue 27874, 24 January 1956, Page 6

Long Coastal Cruise By Auxiliary Ketch

'The Press” Special Service

AUCKLAND, January 23. Sails furled, the auxiliary ketch Kimballa cruised up the harbour and dropped anchor in the Westhaven boat harbour one day last week after a nine weeks’ tour of the New Zealand coast. On board were three bronzed Aucklanders, Messrs J. Bell, owner of the ketch, L. Mather and R. F. Forman—the latter having joined at Gisborne on the return trip. The ketch left Auckland on November 21 and followed the east coast of both Islands to Lyttelton, where it took part in the Lyttelton-Akaroa yacht race. Unfortunately bad weather forced the yacht out of the race. On the way to Lyttelton the Kimballa was becalmed off Cape Campbell, and since engine trouble developed, the ketch was immobile for five days and nights. It was so calm at Cape Campbell that Mr Bell and Mr Mather went for a two-mile run up the coast in a tiny outboard dinghy. They had no worries about running out of food while becalmed for they carried three months’ supplies of tinned goods and 175 gallons of fresh water.

The only thing that troubled them was the Lyttelton-Wellington ferry

steamer. “We got sick of the sight of her sailing up and down a few miles away,” said Messrs Bell and Mather. Neither crew member had much sleep during the cruise as each tried to keep a “weather eye cocked” for trouble during the night. It was easier when Mr Forman joined them at Gisborne. As for cooking, Mr Mather explained. “Well we experimented on each other.” Clothing was a simple matter—they had taken all the old clothes they could lay hands on. 1 Although they met very heavy weather at times, the Kimballa was never more than 40 miles from land and the marine weather forecast received on their ZCI transceiver helped considerably. One of the most beautiful bays they visited was a little privately owned one called Ocean Beach, at Port Underwood. “But it still takes a lot to beat Waiheke,” said Mr Mather. They were emphatic about repeating the voyage. “Given half the chance we would like to go again; perhaps to do a figure around both islands—a thing that has never been done before by a small boat” j