Chichester Message Brief

Press, Volume CVI, Issue 31317, 13 March 1967, Page 13

Chichester Message Brief

CN.Z. Press Assn.—Copyright) LONDON, Mar. 12. From Sir Francis Chichester aboard Gipsy Moth in the South Pacific, March 11: “My position now (3 p.m. New Zealand time, Saturday) is 48.38 south, 104.01 west. I am having difficulty starting my motor and if radio silence follows it will be due to flat batteries. I think I am going to have difficulty working the motor in these heavy seas.

“I have now sailed 5266 miles since I left Sydney. For the last seven days I have been heading directly for Cape Horn and moving steadily south in latitude. I am now 1420 miles from the Horn and also, as I am speaking, 175 miles from the spot where Smeaton somersaulted on February 14, 1957. “As circuit conditions are so bad I will end this message here to conserve my batteries.”

The “Sunday Times” commented:

“At present he is in a weak transmitting position geographically equidistant between two radio stations—and when the initial transmission is faint, interfering atmospherics and the long distance

it has to travel makes clear reception impossible. “Chichester mentions his batteries being flat and appears to be having trouble with his engine which turns the alternator, which then pumps up the battery for his radio. We consulted Perkin's, the manufacturers, who gave us detailed instructions to relay to him. Perkins think he may have water in his fuel tank or a union slackening on the fuel line.” (Copyright of Sir Francis Chichester and “Sunday Times” Newspapers, Ltd.)