Lone voyage far south

Press, Volume CXII, Issue 33110, 28 December 1972, Page 2

Lone voyage far south

f.Vctc Zealand Press Association) DUNEDIN. December 27. After leaving his wife to tend to his citrus fruit orchard, a Bay of Islands yachtsman set out in his 21ft vessel and has arrived at sub-Antarctic Campbell Island after 37 days at sea.

The sailor, Mr G. S. Clark, of Kerikeri, is resting at Campbell Island after enjoying Christmas dinner with meteorological station staff.

He set out on his voyage to the gale-swept seas on November 15 in an attempt to raise funds for the preservation of the Kerikeri Stone Store area.

Mr Clark sailed his plywood yacht into Perseverance Harbour at Campbell Island at 2.30 a.m. last Saturday. After he left the Auckland Islands on the previous Thursday, a “very fresh” westerly enabled the boat to cover 115 miles in 24: hours. HIGH SEAS Speaking by radio from' Campbell Island today, Mr Clark said: “The seas were: high immediately before I reached Campbell Island and I took some time to get into! the harbour.”

Depending on the weather, the lone sailor hopes to be: able to leave the island within three or four days. He plans to make a short stop at

Chatham Island before returning to the North Island. “I certainly would not want to leave Campbell Island if a north-westerly was blowing up, but I am anxious to get back to the Bay of Islands where I have left my wife to tend to my orchard,” Mr Clark said.

50c A MILE So far, 2300 miles of the 3000-mile voyage have been sponsored at 50c a mile. The yacht is the first vessel Mr Clark has owned. Last year he sailed single-handed to Norfolk Island.

The yacht was designed by Robert Tucker, an English naval architect. It was built by Mr Clark six years ago.