Solo yachtsman arrives back in Seattle

Press, 9 July 1983, Page 2

Solo yachtsman arrives back in Seattle

Mark Schrader, the lone American yachtsman on a round-the-world “sailathon,” has arrived back in Seattle at the completion of his journey.

Mr Schrader and his yacht Resourceful, left Lyttelton on April 26 bound for Hawaii on the final leg of the trip. The lone yachtsman set out from Seattle on September 25 planning to sail round the five southern capes.

Mr Schrader is the executive director of the Seattle Research Foundation, an institute which cares for mentally retarded and emotionally disturbed children and young adults. He hopes to raise $1.5 million from sponsors. The total voyage was about 50,000 km. The yacht was lent to the

foundation by Seattle businessmen.

Mr Chris Williamson, a ham radio operator, of Christchurch, has been in touch with the yachtsman at least once a day since he left New Zealand.

“He arrived in Seattle on July 4, Independence Day, and was greeted by a big flotilla of yachts and an enormous crowd,” Mr Williamson said. Mr Schrader is believed to have collected another $250,000 since he arrived in Seattle. Mr Williamson said that the weather for the trip back to Seattle had been good.

“The elapsed time for the trip was 199 days which was faster than all but four of the entrants in the singlehand round-the-world race,” Mr Williamson said.