2000 Miles in Open Boat

Manawatu Times, Volume 64, Issue 278, 24 November 1939, Page 5

2000 Miles in Open Boat

ASKED LINER THE WAY SOUTHAMPTON, Oct. 21. Four months ago James Young sent a letter from the United States to his parents in Brightsido Road, Lewisham. It said: “la coming homo—in my own boat.” After having sailed nearly 2000 miles to the Azores in a boat of wood and canvas which ho had built himself, Young arrived at Southampton in a cargo ship. “Early this year,” he said, “I decided that I wanted to come home to England. “I worked tremendously hard, saved all tho money 1 could and then began to build my boat. No one helped me. “I built it in the daytime and slept in it at night. It was a sailing boat 14 feet long, and it took mo two months to finish it. In my spare time I learned all 1 could about navigation. “I set out from the United States on June 5. Soon I ran into bad weather. “I could not sail my boat at night. I had to haul down the sails and go to sleep. I had tinned foods, soups and biscuits with me. Once tho crew of an ocean liner spotted me and gave me some fresh bread. “I asked them my best route to the Azores, and they gave me my position. ’ ’ After 39 days at sea, Young reached the Azores. He had had such a terrible time that he decided to find some other means of getting to England. With the aid of the Portuguese authorities at Ponta Dclgada he secured passage to Southampton for himself and his boat in a cargo steamer. Now he proposes to sail his boat from Southampton to the Thames.