TWICE SIGHTED

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22368, 15 September 1934, Page 19

TWICE SIGHTED

SHIP GRACE HARWAR . SAILER AND MOTOR LINER., The sighting of a sailing ship bound for Euglapd by a liner on both her trips Homeward and outward from Britain was experienced by those on board the Commonwealth and Dominion motor , ship Port" Gisborne, which is at present loading cargo for London in the Dominion. The sailing ship sighted was the Finnish vessel Grace Harwar, which left Port Victoria, South Australia, on March 2 with a full cargo of wheat for the .English market. On May 2, two months after the Grace Harwar left Australia, the Port Gisborne left Lyttelton for London with New Zealand produce on board. At 10 a.m. on May 27, 49 miles south of the equator, a sailing ship was sighted on the Port Gisborne’s port bow. Course was altered to pass near the stranger and preparations were made to give her provisions if they were needed. As the motor vessel came up astern of the ship those on board were able to read her name. . The wind was light from the northeast at the time, and the ship was making two or three knots, close-hauled on the starboard tack. As the Port Gisborne passed by on her starboard side the blue and white flag of .Finland was hoisted and dipped, while her crew, grouped on the poop and in the weather rigging, gave three cheers. This last, an evening Post. reporter was informed, was somewhat unexpected, but those on board the Fort Gisborne did their, best at short notice and returned the cheers. No request was made for provisions, and a little more than an hour later the ship was out of sight astern. The Grace Harwar was then 86 days out from port. The Port Gisborne reached London on June 6 and reported having passed the sailing ship. ; „ After a. stay of over five weeks on the English coast the Port Gisborne left London again for New Zealand, via Panama, on July 13. She stopped an hour off Plymouth for documents next morning, and then continued her_ journey to the westward, passing the Lizard at noon. That evening at 8 o’clock a sailing vessel was sighted ahead, and course was altered to pass near her. It could be seen that the sailer was a ship and not a barque, and therefore could be none other than Die Grace Harwar. The sun had just set as the Port Gisborne ran by her and all doubts were set at rest, for the name Grace Harwar could be read on her ’bows. . The Grace Harwar was making about eight knots at, the time. It was then 48 days since she had been seen previously. Her crew again cheered the Port Gisborne, while the motor ship’s siren was sounded as a message of welcome and good will. The Grace Harwar was 134 days out when seen on the second occasion; and she reached Falmouth on July 15.