TASMAN SEA GALE

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 184, 2 May 1929, Page 13

TASMAN SEA GALE

INTERCOLONIAL LINERS DELAYED & ULIMAROA’S STORMY PASSAGE After a long and exceedingly stormy passage, taking five days to cover the 1240 miles from Sydney, the HuddartParker steamer Ulimaroa arrived in the stream shortly after noon yesterday and berthed later at the Queens Wharf. The ship bore unmistakable signs of the buffeting she had received, her big yellow funnel being thickly encrusted with salt,from the heavy seas, and her white paint work streaked with rust. Apart from the smashing of several ports, the Ulimaroa sustained no damage. Captain W. J. Wyllie informed a “Dominion” representative that the passage was one of the worst he had experienced for a long time, a remarkable feature being the long persistence of the gale. n The Ulimaroa left Sydney at 0.3(J p.m. last Friday and ran into bad weather as soon as she cleared the Heads. All through the passage across the Tasman Sea the ship encountered a hard gale, which veered from southwest to south-south-east, with high seas causing the vessel to rolljincl pitch violently. There were about 200 passengers on board, and most of them retired to their cabins and stayed there. The deserted decks were swept by heavy seas and the ship had to be slowed down to avoid damage, making 9 to 91 knots- instead of her customary 14* to 14i knots. On Monday a big sea smashed in five or six poits and part of the starboard railing. Some water found its way below and the steamer had to be hove-to for a time while deadlights were secured over the damaged ports. The gale continned unabated till the ship neared the New Zealand coast on Tuesday night. After passing Farewell Spit light, which was not seen, at 3 a.m. yesterday, the ship made good time to 1 Further evidence of the severity of the weather in the Tasman Sea is afforded by the fact that the Jmion liner Marama, which left Wellington at 3 p.m. last Friday, did not arrive at Sydney till 11 a.m. yesterday, and the Maunganui from Auckland was some hours later. _