SAILING RACE FROM AUSTRALIA

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21992, 29 June 1933, Page 8

SAILING RACE FROM AUSTRALIA

FOUR WINDJAMMERS AT FALMOUTH.

What is now a novel spectacle was witnessed at Falmouth during a recent weekend. It consisted of four splendid fourmasted ships laden with grain and taking part in the race for wind-jammers from Australia. They were the Pamir, Pommern, Herzogin Cecilie and L'Avenir. All arrived on May 20. The quickest passage was performed by the Pamir. She took 92 days from Port Victoria. So for this is the best performance this year, but it is recalled that the Herzogin Cecilie once completed the voyage in 86 days. The captain of the Pamir is a little disappointed that he did not equal the Herzogin Cecilie's record. He had a good chance of doing so, but ill-luck in the direction of the winds during the last month robbed him of the honour. The Pamir reached the Horn in 36 days, which was a remarkably fine achievement. She was overtaken by a heavy gale, but no damage was done. The Penang, which also took part in the race, was sighted, and she reported having lost a lifeboat. The Pommern took 98 days, and the captain stated that the vessel reached the Horn in 41 days. Beautiful wither prevailed when rounding the Horn. In fact it had been a marvellous voyago so far as weather was concerned. Tha run from the Horn to the Equator Occupied 26 days, favourable trade winds were experienced and a fresh south-westerly breeze took the vessel past the Azores. Although light winds afterwards prevailed they were from a favourable quarter, and a good run was made to Falmouth. The Pommern sighted the Herzogin Cecilie twice during the voyage, once when near the Line and again four days before her arrival. When off Cape Horn another windjammer was sighted, but she was too far away to be identified. The favourite, Herzogin Cecilie, failed to get a place this year. She was 115 days on the voyage from Port Adelaide, and the captain is a very disappointed man. His ship, which is looked upon as the swiftest ship of the fleet, was dogged with ill luck and was 41 days in reaching the Horn. When passing the equator the ship Olive Bank was sighted. The first ship to arrive was L'Avenir, which completed the passage in 120 days.