TASMAN YACHT RACE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVIII, Issue 20869, 11 May 1931, Page 11

TASMAN YACHT RACE.

EXPERIENCES OF OIMARA.

SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE. HEAVY WEATHER AND NO FOOD. The honour of sailing the first boat across the. finishing line in the transTasman yacht race belongs to Mr. C. Constance, of Auckland, who was the only New Zealander in the crew of the Melbourne auxiliary yacht Oimara. It happened that Mr. Constance was taking his trick at the wheel when Sydney Heads were reached and he sailed the vessel in through the heads at the finish of probably the longest yacht race ever held in the Southern Hemisphere.

Having reached Sydney the crew spent some days ashore, and on March 30 set out for Melbourne on what proved to bp, a, stormy and trying trip. Till". 1 rank Bennell, who had his nose broken in a storm on the trip from Auckland to Sydney, went home to Melbourne by train and two other Bennells, relatives of the. owner, joined the yacht at Sydney, but in tho subsequent heavy weather were unable to givo much assistance in the handling of the yacht. The outstanding incidents of the trip to Melbourne, were described by Mr. Constance, who has now returned to his home in Auckland. No Food Cooked During Gale. Emitting south with a, fair wind good progress was made on the first day. The intention had been to make a cruise of the trip and Twofold Bay was one of the stops included in the programme. In the evening, however, the engine was put out of action and the yacht was hove-to all night in thick weather with little wind. On the morning of Thursday what was thought to be the Twofold Bay light was seen, but this was subsequently found to be the Cioho Island light, the heavy southerly set. which was reported to have been the cause of the wreck of the steamer Malabar at Long Bay, having swept the Oimara southward. Tho yacht was then forced to ride out a south-west gale for four days and when this moderated she

was put on her course again. No food was cooked during the gale owing to the lively antics of the vessel and the two new hands were confined to their bunks. However, on Easter Monday the crew had a big feast, as, in addition to tinned goods, they still had a supply of eggs and fresh vegetables. Another call on their list was Eden, but on putting in to what was thought to be their port of call they found that it was merely a cluster of farm buildings. There was genuine regret about the mistake, particularly as all hands had shaved and dressed up for the occasion.

A Terrifying Experience. "About 7 o'clock that evening a south-west squall hit us with a tenific wallop," said Mr. Constance. " Thero wei-e only two of us to reef the mainsail and it was the most terrifying experience of my life. We had the mizren and a jib on her to steady her and we literally fought the heavy canvas of Qimara's sail to get it snugged down. " My fingernails were bleeding and I had welts on my face where the flapping canvas had been lashing mc. This blow also lasted for four days and when it abated we were about opposite the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes, having made only 30 miles in the four days. On Friday afternoon the weather began to clear and we set -a course for Wilson Promontoiy with a north-east breeze.

" By this time we were short of fresh provisions, as we had laid in only fi'vs days' supply in view of our intention to make coastal calls. We had no bread, butter, sugar or tea. Uur mainstay was biscuit shipped at Auckland, rice and golden syrup We came up with Wellspool Harbour after dark and tried to sail in, the engine again being out of com-

nission, but after hitting the bar five limes we put out and sailed about outside

all night. " By daylight the wind had dropped and we sought our breakfast with the fishing lines. With two of us fishing, one cleaning and myself rooking, we break lasted handsomely on flat heads. Cordial Welcome at Melbourne.

Wellspool was finally made and the rrcw received a cheery welcome from the residents. Here the Oimara remained three davs, during which the engine was re paired. The owner. Mr. I''. ■! Benncll.. and his two relatives lefi by train foi ,\Tr|. bourne and they veie replaced by Mr Frank Bennell and a lured seaman who h.irl been sent, up from Melbourne. I here were thus four men to take, the yacht oil the last 150 miles of Hie trip. On enter-

ing Port Phillip Bay they passed the Antarctic ship Discovery outward bound for Wellington. All idea of the u nle expanse (vf the. bay was given hv Mr. t onstance, who said that on (lie way from the entrance lo Melbourne they v.ere out of sight of land and had to set a compass course.

Melbourne was reached on April ]9 and this being Sunday t ho yachtsmen of the port, wore able to turn out in numbers to welcome the Oirnara. Mr. Constance said the welcome extended to himself as a New Zealander was particularly warm and friendly. During his stay members of the leading yacht, clubs spared no effort to entertain him.

EANGI'S QUALIFICATIONS. SPEED OFF THE WIND. The statement of one of Teddy's crew, Mr. R. Goodwin, that had Teddy experienced the same weather during the Tasman race as that met with on her ioturn voyage sho would have been the only boat in the contest, was questioned last evening by Mr. E. Spraggon, ones of Rangi's crew. Teddy met with easterly weather on her return, which would have been a fair wind to Sydney, Mr. Spraggon said. In the fair wind at the start of the race Rangi, starting 40 minutes later, passed Oirnara three miles this side of Tiri arid Teddy in the Tiri passage, which proved her to be faster in a fair wind. On the Australian coast, sailing under a bare stay-sail before a howling gale and with a heavy following sea, Rangi ran 85 miles in 18 hours, which proved that she could run in bad as well as in fine weather. Had Teddy or any other been alongside more sail would have been set and it would then have been shown what Rangi could do in heavy weather.