ANOTHER WORLD CRUISE

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22021, 2 August 1933, Page 8

ANOTHER WORLD CRUISE

IN HOME-MADE BOAT CIRCULAR SAW AS KEEL. World cruises are the thing to-day, per Franconias or Malolos, if funds and inclination run that way, per Southern Crosses or Winnie Maes, if inclinations and money run in a different direction, per Snarks, Tilicums, Monsunens, or Pireerests if the determination is there but not the means. A young New Zealander, Mr Stanley Ward, a Woodville boy, who until recently lived at Hastings and Motu, decided a few months ago that he would cruise the world as well, but lacking means for regular travel, set to work to provide his own. Working with_ practically no assistance, and from an initial knowledge of boat building which was almost nil, and, moreover, with very slender means, he built from heart ot yellow pine grown in the district the Dauntless, 30 feet long and with a beam of lift 2in. The ribs are spaced at six inches, and the planking is three-quarters of an inch thick. Provision is made for a fresh water capacity of 200 gallons, and for 80 gallons of oil for use in oil bags in case of emergency. For an amateur to fight his way past the many real difficulties of boat building is remarkable, but the Dauutless is more remarkable than that (says the Evening Post), for she was built in the hill country well back from the sea and had to be transported over heavy roads and through the Waioeka Gorge to Opotiki. Here there was almost a tragedy, for the pin bolt between trailer and lorry almost failed. A second lorry was necessary to pull the trailer up the steep hill, and near the summit the tow rope became tangled, and again disaster was narrowly averted. In getting the trailer round a bad bend at the bottom of the gorge minor damage was done to the boat, but. after a trying journey of 11 hours Opotiki was safely reached. Mr Ward intends to sail direct from Opotiki. A slay will bo made at Great Barrier Island, where the craft will be tested in the first stiff gale that springs up. If everything is satisfactory the yacht will then go north, and the first call will be at Norfolk Island. Passage to England will be made by way of the Sue?; canal. Mr Ward hopes to spend several months in England before starring on his return voyage, which will be made by way of the Atlantic coast of Canada and the Panama canal. " I do not intend to take any foolish risks, but to play safe at all times," said Mr. Ward. "I hope to receive weather forecasts by wireless and to sail as much as possible only when' the weather conditions arc suitable." There will be a crew of four, of whom one is still to be selected, and he is to be an experienced yachtsman, for thoujrh Mr Ward has taken a course in navigation he has so far done no ocean sailing. One of the crew is a wireless operator. The three men sn far selected are nil of six feet or more, Mr Ward being the shortest of the three, a bare six feet. There is still another remarkable feature of the Dauntless, and that is ihe keel, for nothing suitable was available, but'finally an outsize in circular saws was found, unwanted, at a timber mill in tin 1 Motu district, and. nil going well, it will next year work a passage back to England, surely a most unusual job for a tmsh circular saw to be put to.