RACE ACROSS TASMAN.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20841, 7 April 1931, Page 10

RACE ACROSS TASMAN.

VOYAGE OF THE TEDDY. CALM WEATHER MET WITH. A MASCOT AND THE WIND. MEMBERS OF CREW RETURN. The story of the voyage across the Tasman Sea of the yacht Teddy, which won the transtasman yacht race, is told by two Aucklanders, Messrs. H. Brown and W. J. Farkinson, who returned from Sydney by the Aorangi yesterday. They were members of the crew of the Teddy.

The Rangi went to the front at the start of the race on Saturday, March 14, taking charge in the Tiri passage. At that time the Oimara was astern of the Teddy. The next morning saw the Rangi close in shore, while the Oimara was not to be seen. Those on the Teddy surmised that the Oimara had used its engine. There was a light southerly breeze blowing as the Teddy passed Cape Brett, and this changed to an easterly after the cape was passed. Monday saw the Teddy standing well out from the North Capo, looking for a north-easterly breeze, which it failed to find.

On the following day the Teddy struck a fresh breeze from the south-west. The small spinnaker was sot, and the boat was running north all the time. On Wednesday a fresh breeze continued to blow and it was found that 137 miles had been traversed. At the time the yacht was logging seven knots. On Wednesday night two reefs were taken in the sail but were let out again on the next morning. Tho wind dropped and there was a dead calm during Thursday. The Boat Becalmed. The same conditions continued on Friday, the mainsail, which was kept up as long as possible, continuing to thrash about. A light easterly wind was felt shortly afterward. The spinnaker was set and the yacht ran before it until Saturday night. Tho wind then came down from the north and tho mainsail was reset and tho spinnaker carried.

Under these conditions tho Teddy moved at a fast rate. The yacht logged about knots for tho next 24 hours. Two reefs were shipped on Sunday night. Early on Monday morning tho Teddy lost the wind and was becalmed. Tho sails were lowered, and a large shark was seen astern. Tuesday was a repetition of the former day, there being no wind. A school of whales passed close to the yacht. Eariy on Wednesday morning the Teddy was still becalmed. At this point the Golden West was sighted about 30 miles south of Lord Howe Island, indicating the wide sweep taken by the Teddy in making Sydney. Through the steamer, Mh Erling 'lambs was able to verify his position. " Charm " Thrown Away. At about six o'clock in the morning a light south-easterly breeze sprang up and the yacht logged three knots with the mainsail hoisted. Later the sail was furled and the yacht ran into rain squalls. On the following day (tie boat was again double-reefed and was brought further into the wind. At night it was becalmed. A fair, light wind was experienced on Friday but at night tho Teddy was becalmed. At 10.30 the next morning the Teddy was off Sydney Heads.

Both Mr. BrOwn and Mr. Parkinson have nothing but praise for the ownor of the Teddy, Mr. Tambs. They stale that his seamanship is little short of marvellous, whilo his navigation is perfect. Moreover, they attribute much of the success of tho voyage to his cheerful temperament. The sailing qualities of the Teddy were referred to in glowing terms by tho two Auckland yachtsmen. " Without her engine the Oimara would stand little chance against the Teddy," they said. " The Teddy will sail in any weather, although tho Rangi would be more speedy under certain conditions."

An interesting incident in the Teddy's voyage was (he disposal of a penny, which had been given to Mr. Tambs by Mr. G. Baildon, Mayor of Auckland, for luck. Mr. Tambs kept the coin for 10 days and then decided that it was a " hoodoo," attracting calms fatal to the progress of the yacht. The " charm " was then thrown into the sea in a south-easterly direction, with the hope that favourable winds would come from there. Almost immediately a favourablo wind sprang up and the Teddy was able to make admirable time on the rest of the journey to Svdu'by.

When Mr. Brown and Mr. Parkinson left Sydney the Rangi had not arrived. Mr. Tambs and two Auckland men'were left in the Teddy, which will be sailed back to Auckland.