IN A COCKLE-SHELL

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18896, 23 June 1923, Page 16

IN A COCKLE-SHELL

VOYAGERS TO AUSTRALIA. VESTURE IN 20-TON YACHT. LONDON. June 3. To Australia in a 20-ton sailing yacht is the ambition of Captain. .Symonds and his •wife, who, with a, single seaman to assist them, left Southampton to-day for the Antipodes. Captain Symonds made the attempt last September, but had to abandon the voyage through stress of weather while off the English const. His yacht is named the Seaweed, and in it, he hopes to cover 15,000 miles to Melbourne Before departing he told a pressman that he had every hope of completing the trip this time. “We have not foiled to take lessons from what we learned on the last occasion,” he said, “which nearly ended in disaster before we got really clear of the English coast. We have fixed special storm boards in the companion-way, which will prevent ns being soaked through, even in the roughest weather.” Mrs Symonds said laughingly that, she was just as enthusiastic as her husband; who had set his heart on accomplishing the

voyage to Australia. “The experiences of the last trip,” she added, “although severely trying, have only made me keener to go again.” ; The trim little craft, which has been lying for three weeks in Southampton Water after a complete refitting and strengthening, sailed gently from the Solent, into the onen Sea. The route will bo to Madeira. Barbados, Panama, Galapagos Archipelago, Society Islands, Suva, Brisbane. Sydney, and Melbourne. Captain Symonds rejected the suggestion that in the absence of auxiliary

power it would be fatal to attempt the voyage. He said that, although he w-as depending entirely on sails, he considered • that he had a. good .chance of accomplishing- the voyage with fair winds. Thetrb was no special hurry to reach his destination. His wife had pluckily stood by him. and she was determined to accompany him. She had been a great encouragement. “She was afraid she would be a hindrance.” ho said, “but I am convinced that she will be a wonderful help. The boy who accompanied us last trip has had enough, and I am now taking an adult seaman.” ' "