Visit by peace yacht

Press, 13 February 1982, Page 11

Visit by peace yacht

An Australian peace yacht will berth at Lyttelton this month on its way across the Pacific Ocean to protest against the launching of a new Trident nuclear submarine in the United States. The Pacific Peacemaker is due on February 22 for a week’s stay to. rally support for its six-month Pacific voyage. A former Royal Navy couple, Bill and Lorraine Ethel), have mortgaged their house to buy the 16.5 m steelhull yacht and sail it on an “island-hopping” course ending at Bangor naval base near Seattle, where the sub-

marine will be commissioned in June. On board are their four children, aged three to eight, two Australian film-makers, and other peace supporters. Australian churches, trade unions, and peace organisations also are helping to finance the voyage. The yacht left Sydney in late December. Last month was spent in Auckland, and the yacht will dock at Wellington on its way to Christchurch. A member of the Christchurch co-ordinating group, Mr J. G. Boanas, said he hoped that other Austra-

lians. New Zealanders and Pacific people would feel strongly enough to travel to the States and join forces with American protesters on the launching day. The Trident was the first pre-emp-tive strike submarine with missiles capable of reaching their target “before the enemy can even get out of their beds in the morning.” Christchurch organisers ’ expect a crowd of wellwishers at the wharf to meet the Pacific Peacemaker. The Lyttelton member of Parliament, Mrs Anne Hercus, has been invited to the welcoming ceremony.