TASMAN YACHT RACE

Greymouth Evening Star, 27 December 1934, Page 9

TASMAN YACHT RACE

COMPETITOR SIGHTED. [PER PP.ESS ASSOCIATION.] AUCKLAND, December 26. The first word of the ■ Auckland sloop Ngataki, one of the two competitors in the trans-Tasman yacht race, which started from Auckland on December 8, was received to-day, in a message sent to the “Herald” by Captain J. Benton, master of the inter-colonial steamer Kalingo. The message stated the Ngataki was sighted and signalled by the Kalingo at 4 o’clock this morning in latitude 38 degrees 44 minutes south, and longitude 148 degrees 43 minutes east. This position is in the entrance to Bass Strait, about 240 miles from the finishing line, which is off Williamstown, Port Melbourne. The Ngataki reported “All Well.” The Ngataki had. been seventeen and a-half days at sea w'hen she was reported. In the previous trans-Tasman race, in 1931, the first boat to finish, the Oimara, completed the voyage in 12 days, while the last yacht to reach Australia, the Rangi, took 20 days. Tlie Ngataki lias a. handicap of 17 hours on the Te Rapunga. Her crew comprises J. AV. Wray (owner and navigator), G. B. Wray, R. Hunt, M. Robinson and 1. Graham.