Sailing the Seven Seas in a Little Ketch

Manawatu Times, Volume LV, Issue 7044, 31 December 1932, Page 8

Sailing the Seven Seas in a Little Ketch

DANISH SEAFARER DESCRIBES HIS ADVENTURES His adventures and tribulations afloat were described in the course ol an interesting lecture by Captain Hnuu Anderson, Danish, author and seaman, in the Municipal Hail last evening, jur. L. V. Dahl, Vice-Consul for Denmark, presided and there was an attendance of upwards of 20U. Captain Andersen is owner master of the 57-ton ketch Monsunen, which put into Wellington last week and in which ho is making a voyage round the world, both satisfying his seafaring desire and gaining material for a new book. He is one of the most widely read authors in Denmark, specialising in sea stories. Captain Andersen, who is 42 years 01 age, explained that he iirst went to sea as a boy and after seven years ol ocean life, was transfcrcd to omce work. Years of this did not dull his love for the sea and finally he imt his all into the little ketch Monsunen, in which he set out from Denmark witn his wife and three children and live of a crew. Christmas was spout in mid-Atlantic, and an incident in tneii celebration of the festive season vtus the catching lire of an improvised Christmas tree, which had to be thrown overboard. From Cape "Verde Islands they had sailed to Rio de Janeiro and thence to Buenos Aires, where tnc Monsunen broke her anchor chain in a gale and drifted shoreward, luckily managing to obtain a tow to safety just in time. Another adventure that occurred during a 14-day stay in Buenos Aires concerned an intoxicated Argentine, who had brandished a knife at the speaker, being ameliorated with a smile. Ilis first experience as a speaker was at Buenos Aires, where during his remarks he had been handed a note, ' 1 Please stop at once. ’’ Ho had complied. The Monsunen had then made the 5000-mile trip across the South Atlantic to Capetown. Two sick men hau been taken from Tristan da Cunha. !St. Helena, Ascension and the West Indies were also visited, and incidentaay the speaker mentioned that his little ketch had made 3000 miles in 21 days. Two months had been spent in New York and the speaker had delivered several lectures. Prom the American city the Monsunen had put back to Denmark, and after an adventurous journey, completing a 26,000 mile voyage, reached Copenhagen. In his native country he delivered 175 lectures and stayed there 17 months before setting out again. This time the Monsunen had sailed with a crew of five but without his wife and family, who had gone to Teneriffe, where Mrs. Andersen had gone in an endeavour to regain her health after tho tribulations of the previous voyage. This time the speaker had desired to make a long trip without makingport. After calling at Tene.riffe, where Captain Andersen had seen his wife, the Monsunen had run into shocking weather and many hours had to be spent at tho pumps to cope with leaks and water shipped. They had sailed across the Indian Ocean and had called in at the Auckland Islands before heading for Cape Horn. However, trouble had been encountered and with the boat leaking the Monsunen had had to put back into "W ellington for repairs. Since being in this country he had received nothing but kindness and hospitality, which he greatly approbated. On the motion of Mr. O. Monrad, Captain Andersen -was accorded a hearty vote of thanks. Tribute was paid by Mr. Monrad to the -work of Mr. and Mrs. G. A. Penny in arranging tho lecture.