TASMAN YACHT RACE

Stratford Evening Post, Volume I, Issue 83, 17 March 1931, Page 8

TASMAN YACHT RACE

SLOW PROGRESS NOW CALM WEATHER IN NORTH CAPE MARIANOT PASSED AUCKLAND, .March IG. Latest advice last, night from the lightkeeper at Cape Maria Van Diemen states that tno yachts competing in the Tasman Race have not yet passed the Cape. The weather is dear am! the sea calm with very little wind. The yachts evidently are making slow progress. Wireless Equipment. There will be no wireless communication with any of the three yachts daring the course of the race across the Tasman, although both the Rangi and the Oimara are equipped with receiving sets, which will enable them t. pick up broadcast messages such as weather reports. A wireless operator had been chosen to accompany the Oimara, but at the last minute he found that the notice given him was too short to allow him to obtain sufficient leave to make the trip. "We did not know until 10 o'clock this morning that the wireless operator who was to go with us would be unable to make the trip," Mr Bennell said just before the race. "He was to have acted as a deck hand as well, so it means that, we will be sailing short-handed. Rather than do this we wouid have taken another man had there been time. It. means that we might lose » few hours by neglect of the sails owing to the tiredness of the crew from the longer shifts. Our friends in Australia arc expecting messages, but there will now be no one on boar.! able to send them. None of us has sufficient, knowledge of morse, but in a case of extreme emergency we may be able to broadcast a message very slowly." The Oimara's wireless equipment is valued at £2OO. Tho Rangi has a wireless receiving set supplied by Harringtons, N.Z; Limited, and the same firm has presented a motion picture camera. The set has a rango of 600 miles, and it will enable the yacht,to pick up weather reports. Farewell Messages.

"We do not under-fate our opponent, Mr Tambs," Mr F. J. Bennell, owner of the Oimara, said just before the start of the face. "I have not seen the Rangi, so it would not be fair to say anything about her." Mr Bennell expressed lib appreciation of the efforts of those who had been responsible for finding his opponents in the race. A splendid spirit had been shown by New Zealand yachtsmen generally, ho said. There was a possibility that he might return in the Oimara, as he had never regretted having brought, his boat to New Zealand. . Mr Tambs announced that if everything went well he would return to Auckland from Sydney in the Teddy. "In about three' weeks," ho said, aughingly. "if i am able to return I shall probably remain in Auckland for a mouth «»r two doing some writing. Of course, if the trip to Sydney takes too long I will not be able to come back, but ii'i any vase 1 have provisions for six months. People have been very godd to me, and 1 appreciate very much all that has been done for me." The members of the Teddy's crew expressed the hope that they would be able to return to Auckland in the boat, Tlioy would much prefer it to returning by steamer. If time permits the Rangi will continue on to Melbourne, as desired by Mr Bennell, according to LieutenantCommander Juler. Commander Juler expressed his appreciation of the hospitality shown him by members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and by boating men generally in Auckland. Particularly he appreciated the sportsmanship shown by the Akarana Yaclit Club, and he was proud to be flying their colours. He was taking the Bangi over seas not usually crossed by so small a craft, and he was deeply indebted to Mr W. A. E. Leonard for the loan of the boat, He would be bringing the Rangi ba«ck to Auckland, so he had merely to say "an revoir." On Saturday morning the three skippers were farcwelled by the Mayor, Mr G. Baildon, and the harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sargeant. Among the messages wishing the competitors good luck was one from Commodore Blake, commodore of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy. The Three Yachts. There is not a great difference in the sizes of the three boats. Oimara, which i.. virtually the challenger, id 42ft. long, 10ft. din. beam, and slt. 'Jin, draught. She has an auxiliary semi-Dietel engine of 201-h.p., 'for which she _ wi.i carry 70 gallons of fuel, and carries a square-sail for use when running before the wind. The engine, of course, Will not be used unless in case of dire necessity, in which event she would retire from the rate. Her crew comprises Mr Bennell, skipper and owner; Captain H. 'J. Symonds, navigator; Mr A. B. Monks, wireless operator; and Mr F. Benne.l, son of the owner. Teddy is a cutler, without auxiliary engine. She is . 40ft. dvera.l, 14ft. beam, and 7ft, Sin. draught. She is skippered by Mr Tambs, whose crew includes two other Norwegians and a New Zealander. Rangi is a well known B class yacht, 42ft. overall, owned by "!,■ Alan Leonard, of Rcmuera. She was built as a fishing boat by Bailey and Lowe, and up till two yeors ago was owned by Mr Percy Thodc. A sister ship V) Rangi is White Heather, now owned in Wellington, which Ims made the trip to the Chatham Islands and back. She has an auxiliary engine. Rangi is navigated by Lieutenant-Commander W. C .1 tiler, late of the Royal Australian Navy, who Was a member of the crew of the Oimara on her recent trip, and who will sail Rangi back to New Zealand after the race. A member of the crew is Mr D. Kirkcaldie, of Wellington. She will sail under the flag of the Akarana Yacht Club.

The race is handicapped by tho Melbourne New Zealand-to-Australia Yavht Race Committee, which will frame the handicaps from details supplied from Auckland while tho boats are under way. The race will thus have the added zest of being sailed under scaled handicaps.