SAIL VERSUS STEAM.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XLIII, Issue 13278, 10 September 1906, Page 6

SAIL VERSUS STEAM.

ANOTHER VICTORY FOR THE SAILER. Twice within the space of a few weeks sail-' ing vessels have succeeded in beating steamships in the race from South Africa to Newcastle. The latest sailer to achieve this distinction is the fine American ship St. Francis, which arrived at Newcastle last week. She sailed from Algoa Bay on July I*, throe days after the departure of the tramp steamer Ben Vrackie from Capetown, and both vessels reached their destination within a few hottrs of one another. It is only fair, however, to mention that the Ben Track called at Melbourne on Friday night, last to replenish hor coal bunkers, resuming her voyage on Saturday night. But after making 24 hours' allowance for this detention, the St. Francis accomplished the voyage in two days loss time than her more powerful rival. Tho St. Francis made a fast passage of 37 days! ; The vessel passed Wilson's Promontory on Thursday last, and getting the southerly winds came along well, with an average of I*o miles a day; but on Sunday she covered a considerably grea.or distance. The St. Francis will load a cargo of Brown's coal at Newcastle for tho islands. It was only last month that tho ship Nootsfield, anchored at Newcastle after a voyage of 30 days from Capetown, beating the modern tramp steamship Howick Hall, of 3712 tons, from East London, by a . clear day. The Nootsfield sailed from Capetown on June 21, and reached Newcastle on July 21; while the Howick Hall left East London on June 24 ,and arrived at the northern port on July 25. ' .