Big Topsail Schooner Returns To Nelson

Press, Volume CIII, Issue 30633, 26 December 1964, Page 18

Big Topsail Schooner Returns To Nelson

The Fitheach Ban (Gaelic for White Raven.) the biggest topsail schooner in Australia and New Zealand, left Lyttelton for Nelson this week.

Her owner Captain A. D. Tregidga, of Nelson who brought her to Lyttelton more than 15 months ago because of lack of a berth in Nelson, has been fishing out of Lyttelton as master of the trawler Miss Sno-Lyne. The schooner is 83ft with a beam of 14ft 6in and a depth of Bft 6in. Captain Tregidga bought her seven years and a half ago. In the boat he has crossed the Tasman five times, once in the 1961 Tasman yacht race. For a number of years, the Fitheach Ban has been the Tregidga family’s home. Richard, the elder son, has been fishing out of Lyttelton for much of the schooner’s stay, and John, the younger son, a former pupil of Nelson College, has attended Linwood High School while his parents have lived in Linwood.

The family will return to Nelson, where they will probably live aboard the schooner for a time, before going ashore again. Miss Lynette Tregidga will also be a crew member on the passage home with two other Nelson girls, Maria Hippolite and Joy Muller. Mrs Tregidga and John Tregidga returned to Nelson by car after watching the schooner sail.

Berthage for the Fitheach Ban had been scarce in Nelson because of harbour developments. In Lyttleton too, it had been difficult, Captain Tregidga said, but thanks to the courtesy of the Harbourmaster (Captain A. R. Champion,) the problem had been solved.