THRILLS IN A YACHT.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21163, 21 April 1932, Page 6

THRILLS IN A YACHT.

DIM ABA'S ADVENTURES.

BTORMS IN THE TASMAN.

FAILURE OF THE WIRELESS.

[from our own correspondent.]

MELBOURNE, April 13,

Graphic accounts of his experiences in Jiis yacht Oimara in mid-ocean storms ;were given by Mr. F. J. Bennell on his arrival in Melbourne. Running under sail before a following gale which threatened at times to engulf the tiny craft, a record run was made by Mr. Bennell and a crew of three from Melbourne to Hobart in 65 hours. Leaving Hobart, the Oimara tackled the eight days' record to Sydney. Fair -weather favoured her this time, and the trip was made in four and a-half days. She was the only yacht from another State to attend the Sydney Bridge celebrations. Far out in the Tasman Sea no proper charts were available and navigation became sheer guesswork. Bearing slightly out of their course toward New Zealand, the party came up with a fleet of fishing trawlers which set them on their right direction and provided a welcome basket of freshly caught fish. After having visited ports north of Sydney, the Oimara turned for home again iand berthed at Melbourne at midnight on Saturday, having completed a six weeks' voyage of 2000 miles. Mr. Bennell attributed tho success of his boat in breaking records to tho practice of standing far cut to sea, instead of following the (Coast: inc. Huge Sharks Follow Yacht. It was in deep waters that his most thrilling adventures were encountered. Once, during the present trip, the Oimara ran into a cyclone. Lightning played like fireworks round the ship. On. the Tasmanian trip the storm, although less spectacular, was quite as dangerous, and for 24 hours two men were unatle to leave the wheel. Huge sharks—half the length of the Oimara—followed the ship for days. Flying fish leaping from the water at night and striking the sails afforded a constant supply of food. Falling on th© deck, they were picked up and cooked by the hungry voyagers. Bariacouta were also plentiful, and other surface fish were caught with trailing lines. Rations ran short at times, and the crew were reduced to eating bread 10 days old. Early in the trip the wireless failed, and the Oimara was completely cut off from the world. When big ships were encountered at soa, communication was made by flags and the captains were requested to notify authorities of the whereabouts of the Oimara. Inter-State passengers wero astonished at finding so small a boat hundreds of miles from land. Craft's Narrow Escapes. Several times the Oimara narrowly aveited being run down at night and a shaip watch for ocean going steamers ,was kept. North of Sydney bearings ,wers lost, and the boat standing inshore was suddenly swept into tossing surf among projecting rocks. Expert seamanship just saved the Oimara from being ,wre:ked among the breakers. Two of the crew were nearly swept overboard in the Rip when an unexpected gale forced them suddenly to shorten sail. Once the mainsail was swept away and the mast itself barely withstood the gale. The seas constantly toa? toll of loose gear on the boat. Mr. Bennell was confined to his berth because of ill-health during the early part of the trip, but he has returned more than fit. He is planning a trip np the Barrier Reef to New Guinea.