TASMAN OCEAN RACE

Evening Star, Issue 20635, 7 November 1930, Page 14

TASMAN OCEAN RACE

OLD YVONNE'S CAREER HOW SHE HURDLED HALF-TIDE WALL (Special to the ‘Stak.’J CHRISTCHURCH, November 6. Tiio Yvonne, which was one of the yachts mentioned ay a Now Zealand challenger for tho Tasman Ocean race, is over thirty years old, and although a stoutly built craft would require a lot of refitting to make her suitable for ocean sailing. She was built by Mr Logan, of Auckland, and was a good example of her class. Wonderful boats were built in those days. She was owned in partnership by Professor R. J. Scott, and Mr E. F. J. Grigg, but some timo later Professor Scott took her over. On two or three occasions Professor Scott sailed the Yvonne from Lyttelton to Dunedin, and on one occasion Professor Cull, then a student at Canterbury College, was one of the crew of four. All told, they spent about a week round tbf) Peninsula, and then went on with calls at Timaru and Oainaru. Hie Yvonne figured in a highly sensational incident on her second visit to Dunedin by jumping over the half-tide wall in the harbour, recalls to-night’s 1 Star.’ This was something in tho nature of a miracle, as there is never water enough to sail over tho wall, and tho Yvonne had a deep heavy keel. The yachts were starting on an ocean race to Moeraki, and had all sail set when a southerly buster blew up. The Yvonne is supposed to have been helped over tho wall by a big wave, and, lying on her side, but it is still a bit of a mystery how she got over. For many years tho boat lay in the estuary at Monck’s Bay, but she was sadly altered from her racing rig. A ton and a-balf of lead had to bo taken from her keel to get her over the bar, and an iron keel fitted. Her mast was also shortened. The yachting men had no hesitation in ruling her out for tho Tasman trip.