WILL NOT VISIT THE SOUTH ISLAND.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 46, 24 February 1931, Page 7

WILL NOT VISIT THE SOUTH ISLAND.

OIMARA SAILS BACK TO AUSTRALIA SOON.

Regret at his inability to visit the South Island is expressed by Mr F. J. Bennell, skipper of the yacht Oimara, in a letter to Mr W. A. Gunn, of Christchurch. In his letter Mr Bennell, who is at present in Wellington, states that he regrets that he is unable to visit the South Island, as he intends leaving Wellington for Auckland to-morrow. He also states that there is little prospect of a coastal yacht race in New Zealand waters, as his time is limited. From Auckland he will sail the Oimara back to Australia. Referring to his trip to New Zealand, Mr Bennell states that head winds were encountered for most of the journey, and a southerly gale lasted for two days. Oimara behaved well, demonstrating the possibility of an annual yacht race across the Tasman. The letter concludes by expressing the best wishes of the captain and crew of the Oimara to Canterbury yachtsmen, and hopes of meeting some of them next year. Oimara recently crossed the Tasman in a little less than eleven days. Formerly she was to have raced a New Zealand yacht over the journey, Mr Gunn being elected as skipper of the proposed New Zealand vessel. A member of the crew was to have been the skipper of Shadow, winner of last week’s ocean yacht race at Port Levy. Negotiations for the race fell through, however, and Oimara sailed against time. Mr Gunn stated this morning that there was a possibility of a race between an Australian and a New Zealand vessel next year. Canterbury yachtsmen were keeping the matter in view.