DARING VOYAGE

Southland Times, Issue 23675, 25 November 1938, Page 6

DARING VOYAGE

TWO BROTHERS CROSS PACIFIC HOME-MADE YAWL USED SYDNEY, November 18. Eighteen months out from Seattle in the yawl Marie, which they built themselves, two Dutchmen, Frank and Pete Dona, arrived at Sydney this week. Electrical engineers who have lived in the United States for 10 years, they have been touring the Pacific. They have lived on the yawl for the last four years. On their voyage they have called at Honolulu, Taihiti, Samoa and Suva. The last 1750 miles of the voyage, from Suva to Sydney, took 20 days, the Marie being delayed by calms. The had not advised anyone in Sydney of their coming, and their arrival therefore was unexpected, the signalman on duty at South Head suspecting a practical joke when the small craft came in sight flying the, United States ensign and the yellow flag calling for the services of a doctor. SURPRISE OF YACHTSMEN The little vessel moved up to moorings, where she attracted considerable attention. Most Sydney yachtsmen who saw her were of the opinion that she was unsuitable for ocean-going work, and were surprised to learn of _ the voyaging she had done. Her hull is of the V-bottom Sharpie type, and she appears to draw little water for a seagoing vessel. “We were not sailors, but we read Harry Pidgeon’s book on sailing the world single-handed and we decided to build a ship like his,” said Pete Dona. “We went to the public library in our town and got the plans and set to work. When the ship was completed we named her after our mother. For four years we have been living on board and before we set out for Sydney we spent six months in Alaskan waters and cruised down the Pacific coast.” Frank Dona has developed into a lecturer. “I lecture in public schools and colleges on Holland and Dutch customs and social life,” he said. “I wear Dutch costume and give little Dutch dances and music and explain to them how wooden shoes are made.. We make small souvenir wooden shoes' during our spells in port and sell them.”

Twice during the voyage the Marie’s mainmast was broken and she was twice on reefs. In a gale off the Oregon coast Frank was swept overboard, but Pete turned the Marie back on her course and rescued him.