BARQUE ARRIVES

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXX, Issue 21411, 8 February 1933, Page 10

BARQUE ARRIVES

PASSAT MAKES PORT VOYAGE OF 73 DAYS FINE SIGHT IN GULF; f: FULL SPREAD OF CANVAS For the second time in two weeks a large sailing vessel entered the port of Auckland last evening, the Finnish fourmasted barque Passat, from the Seychelles Islands, in the Indian Ocean, arriving early in the evening and anchoring in the stream. The Passat will berth at King's Wharf this morning, near the Finnish barque Winterhude, which arrived on January 27, and visitors to the waterfront will have an exceptional opportunity of comparing the two vessels. When the Winterhude arrived, after a remarkably quick passage of 56 days, she reported that the Passat had left six days before her, so that the Passat has occupied 73 days on the voyage. The Passat is a steel vesisel of 3183 tons and was built at Hamburg in 1911. She was formerly owned by a German firm, but was sold last year to Finnish owners. Carrying Full Sail

After being sighted off Cape Brett at noon on Monday, the Passat was seen from Tiritiri shortly before noon, when she was 20 miles out and was carrying full sail. She continfled to carry a full spread of canvas until she passed the signal station, and with a northerly wind was moving beautifully, presenting an impressive sight even through the rain. Shortly after 3 p.m. Captain J. D. Hewett flew over the Passat, which was then commencing to shorten sail. As the aeroplane passed over the barque the crew raced up the rigging and lined out on the yards to take in the royal and topgallant sails. Within 10 minutes the three sets of sails had been furled. The weather at the time was thick, but the ship was making a good speed. The Auckland Harbour Board's tug left at 4.30 p.m. to meet the Passat, but on reaching her found that under a fairly steady wind the barque was then making good progress under all sail except the "royals" on all but the mizzen mast, which did not carry any canvas. Towed to Anchorage The tug accompanied the Passat, which was making a steady five knots, to the Rangitoto beacon, where she picked up a towline and brought the vessel to port. With canvas and running gear in excellent condition the barque presented a fine appearance for a ship which had beon so long at sea. All the paintwork was in good order, while the vessel appeared to be spotlessly clean about the decks. The high standard maintained on board was also borne out by the efficiency of the crew in reducing sail and preparing to anchor, the seamanlike manner in which they performed their tasks being evidence of good discipline and thorough training. The Passat has a full cargo of 3500 tons of guano, all of which is for discharge at Auckland.