TASMAN YACHT RACE

Poverty Bay Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18589, 27 December 1934, Page 5

TASMAN YACHT RACE

MELBOURNE ANXIETY

NGATAKI SIGHTED

MELBOURNE, Doc. 26. Victorian yachtsmen and officials of the centenary carnival' to-day expressed some anxiety for the safety of the yachts Te Rapunga and Ngataki, which are competing i.n the Tasman race, iIt; had been estimated that they could cover tho distance in 14 days, hut they are now 17 days out from Auckland, since when they have not been sighted.

Tho first ivord of the Auckland sloop Ngataki, one of the two competitors in the trans-Tasman yacht race which started from Auckland on December 8, was received yesterday in a message sent to the-Herald by Captain J. Benton, master of the intercolonial steamer Kalingo. The message stated that the Ngat.aki was sighted and'signalled by the Kalingo at 4 o’clock yesterday morning in latitude 38 degrees 44 minutes south, longtitude 148 degrees 43 minutes east. This position is in the entrance to Bass Strait, about 240 miles from the finishing line, which is- off. Williamstown, Port Phillip Bay. The Ngataki reported “All well.”, The Ngataki had been 17$ days at sea, when she was reported in the previous trans-Tasman race in 1931. The first boat, to®finish, the Oimara, completed the voyage in under 12 days, while the last yacht to reach Australia, the Rangi, took 20 days. The Ngataki has a handicap of 17 hours on the Te Rapunga. Her crew comprises J. W. Wray, owner and navigator, G. B. Wray, and R. Hunt.