Sloop From Melbourne On Round-world Voyage

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30366, 15 February 1964, Page 15

Sloop From Melbourne On Round-world Voyage

(New Zealand Press Association)

AUCKLAND February 14. A man who hopes to become the first Australian to make a round-the-world voyage eastward in a yacht has arrived at Auckland in his rhuch-travelled craft. He is Mr W. E. Nance, aged 26, of Melbourne, and his yacht is the 25ft sloop Cardinal Virtue. Mr Nance began his singlehanded trip from England in September, 1960. and travelled by way of Madeira, South America. Cape Town, Fremantle, Albany, Melbourne and Hobart before making his landfall at Whangaroa. A heavy sea struck the yacht in the Indian Ocean, smashing the mast off at the lower cross-trees. For 2000 miles Mr Nance sailed the

yacht under a jury rig, using the broken spar, to Fremantle. Mr Nance, who had never made a long-distance voyage in a yacht before, said he intended continuing his trip in the spring, with his first stop at South America. “If I get there I will be the first Australian to complete the trip,” said Mr Nance. “I’ll also be the second person to travel round the Horn eastward singlehanded.” Mr Nance intends taking a job until he gets under way again. He was employed as a diamond driller in Australia. His brother, Mr R. Nance, who sailed down the New Zealand coast with him when he arrived, will return to Australia.