TASMAN GROSSING

Evening Star, Issue 22723, 10 August 1937, Page 9

TASMAN GROSSING

AWATEA AND MONTEREY CAPTAINS DENY RAGING Press Association—By Telegraph—Copyright SYDNEY, August 9. The ‘ Sun ’ reports that the Awatea’s passage occupied G3hr 40min and the Monterey’s 62hr 15min. Captain Davey, of the Awatea, in an interview, said; ‘“I was in communication with Captain Johansen of the Montesey many times during the voyage. I have jiever_ met Captain Jonanson. He always signed his messages ‘ Aloha, Johansen.’ I was not going to allow him to get away with Hawaiian like that, so I signed mine ‘ Kia Ora, Davey; ’ thus I gave him a bit of Maori. We had a fast run to North Capo and maintained 22J knots till wo turned the corner, where we had to fight a severe blow. Seas were 30ft across the bows. The storm lasted 16 hours. We gained speed on Sunday, when the weather was finer. Throughout the trip we averaged 204 knots. Wo slowed down at 4.40 a.m. to-day as we were not needed at the wharf until 8.10 a.m. Captain Johanson, who was interviewed, said, “ Oh, no, we were not racing. The speed of my ship is 20J knots unless there are good reasons why it should be more, and I do not know of any.” . The Monterev’s best time hitherto was 57hr 63min, with an average speed of 22.06 knots.