300 MILES DRIFT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23418, 7 August 1939, Page 8

300 MILES DRIFT

YACHT IN STORM FAITH'S EXPERIENCE ' ■ r—- ■-;) hove-to for 5 six days VOYAGE FROM GHATIIAMS [BY TELEGRAPH —own correspondent] NAPIER, Bunday 1 Adverse weather caused the -> yacht Faith to take a fortnight for the voyage from the Chatham Islands to Napier, whero she arrived with h er crew of two, Mr. W. F. Marsh, 0 f Christchurcli, and Mr. J. L. Marsh, of Central Otago, j'esterday morning, at 11.30 o'clock. It was- the Faith for which anxiety was felt in the Chatham Islands a few weeks ago, when she parted company with a fishing trawler when a gale sprang up, and failed to put in an appearance again for s6me days. The Faith, which is of ten tons registor, originally intended to make Lyttelton her first port of call on her voyage to New Zealand, but adverse winds and heavy seas necessitated a change in plans. Call at Castlepoint For six days the yessel was hove to and during that period she drifted at least 300 miles. Realising that anxiety might be felt for their safety because of the long period the trip had taken, the Marsh brothers made a call at Castlepoint, from where they sent messages to their relatives. They then came on to Napier, and it is now intended that the yacht will go on to Auckland early in the week.

Mr. W. F. Marsh, who is the owne> of the yacht, interviewed this afternoon, said the experience had not been a pleasant one. They left the Chatham' , Islands a fortnight ago yesterday, and their first landfall was Castlepoint last Wednesday. Fortunately they had provisions, and the vessel, which is an Unusually staunch and well-fitted craft, had stood up splendidly to the h(§avy seas which had been encountered' Faith Goming to Auckland

Speaking of their experiences in the Chatham Islands, Mr. J. L. Marsh said there should have been no real concern for their safety when they became separated from the trawler. They had simply run before the gale until it had blown itself out, and then had taken some time to get back to land owing to' unfavourable winds. Mr. J. L. Marsh, who is interested in fruitfarming in Central Otago, will return to his home by aeroplane tomorrow, while his brother intends sailing the Faith to Auckland, probably with a crew of several Napier residents who are eager to make the trip. It is the intention of Mr. Marsh to make Auckland his headquarters for some ,time at least.