SAILED THE TASMAN
Queensland Launch Arrives at Auckland 1080-MILE PASSAGE (By Telegraph—Press Association.! AUCKLAND, April 28. With a yellow quarantine flag flying from the masthead denoting that she was from overseas, a powerful, sea-worthy-looking launch arrived practically unheralded from Sydney shortly after 3 o’clock yesterday afternoon. With an overall length of 65 feet, the Coastguard made an excellent passage across the Tasman, and in spite of encountering strong heads winds and heavy seas she averaged a little over eight knots on her 1080-mile passage. Under the command of Captain Frederick Johnston, o£ Auckland, the Coastguard carried a crew of four. The captain’s brother, Mr D. Johnston, was mate; Mr I’. Bruell, engineer, and Mr S. Hebdon, cook.
The Queensland-owned Coastguard will shortly be numbered among Auckland’s large fleet of seine-net fishingboats. She was built at Sydney in September last year for the express purpose of testing whether seine-net fishing in the vicinity of the Great Barrier Reef could be made a commercial success. With her base at Makay, North Queensland, the Coastguard made a thorough investigation and study of fishing conditions surrounding the Barrier Reef and found that fish of an edible variety could not be secured in sufficient quantities. The vessel then proceeded from Makay to Auckland via Sydney. She cleared the Sydney Heads on April 15. There was a strong easterly wind and head seas, and Captain Johnston said last night that he was undecided whether to return to Sydney or continue. It was agreed to carry on, and the Coastguard proved herself an excellent seaboat. Rough weather prevailed until the craft was about halfway across the Tasman, when two days of calm were experienced. Further buffeting commenced, however, when the Coastguard was some 200 miles off Cape Maria van Diemen and ran into a westerley gale, which continued until the launch reached the shelter of land in the vicinity of North Cape
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Bibliographic details
Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 23 April 1936, Page 8
Word Count
315SAILED THE TASMAN Hawke's Bay Tribune, Volume XXVI, Issue 111, 23 April 1936, Page 8
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