GIRL AS SAILOR

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXII, Issue 22179, 5 August 1935, Page 10

GIRL AS SAILOR

CEUISE ON YACHT ; WORLD TOUR IN PROSPECT ( A GREAT ADVENTURE THE PROBLEM OF CLOTHING A member of the crow of the German yacht Te Rapunga, which is to leave Auckland on a world cruise next week, Miss Eileen Morris, of Napier, is keenly looking forward to the adventuro. Miss Morris, who has already dono some coastal sailing on the lo Rapunga, is 21 years of age and is a daughter of Mrs. C. E. Morris, of Napier. She has never been away from Now Zealand before. "This trip will be the fulfilment of an ambition I have cherished for a long time," said Miss Morris yesterday. "My greatest difficulty so far has been to overcome prejudice against the idea of a girl undertaking the voyage. However, my mother, and, for that matter, the rest of my relatives also, have been wonderful about it all. My mother has always encouraged me to think for myself." Miss Morris said that clothing was a problem for her, as there was no room on the yacht for excess luggage. Besides her ordinary feminine attire to wear when ashore, she was taking shorts and slacks for shipboard use. The young woman is eager to learn the intricacies of sailing and navigation. She also intends to study German under the owner, Captain George Dibbern, who is a German. She also will turn her proficiency at typewriting to advantage by acting as stenographer to Captain Dibbern, who intends to write a book. Ming, Morris also hopes to record in story form her experiences during her travels. "I shall be free to leave the yacht and return to New Zealand whenever I. wish to, but I am confident I shall not want to do that," added Miss Morris. Besides Captain Dibbern, the complement of the boat will comprise Mr. Maurice Black, formerly an instructor for the Agricultural Department at Gisborne, and Mr. Roy Murdock, lalx; of the literary staff of the Poverty Bay Herald, Gisborne. A new set of sails is being made for the vessel and it probably will be fitted toward the end of the week. "If it is fine next week-end we shall probably make a one-day or two-day cruise down the gulf to test the sails and thee we shall leave on the first stage of our long cruise early next week," said Captain Dibbern. The Te Rapunga will travel first to Rarotonga, and then probably by way of Tahiti.and Honolulu to Canada and California.