TASMAN YACHT RACE

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 74, Issue 112, 14 May 1931, Page 12

TASMAN YACHT RACE

| EXPERIENCES OF OIMARA SYDNEY TO MELBOURNE HEAVY WEATHER AND NO FOOD. The honour of sailing the first boat across the finishing line in the transTasman yacht race belongs to Mr. C. Constance, of Auckland, who was the only New Zealander in the crew of the Melbourne auxiliary yacht Oimara, states the New Zealand Herald. It happened that Mr. Constance was taking his trick at the wheel when Sydney Heads were reached and he sailed the vessel in through the heads at the finish of probably the longest yacht race ever held in the Southern Hemisphere. Having reached Sydney the crew spent sonic days ashore, and on March 30 set out for Melbourne on what proved to be a stormy and trying trip. Jlr. Frank Bonnell, who had his nose *'b*oken in a storm on the trip from Auckland to Sydney, went home to Melbourne by train and two other Bonnells, relatives of the owner, joined the yacht at Sydney, but in the subsequent heavy weather were unable to give much assistance in the handling of the yacht. The outstanding incidents of the trip to Melbourne were described by Mr. Constance, who has now returned to his home in Auckland. No Food. Cooked During Gale, I Running south with a fair wind good progress was made on the first day. | The intention had been to make a cruise of the trip and Twofold Bay was one of the stops included in the programme. In the evening, however, the engine was put out of action and the yacht was hovc-to-all night in thick weather with little wind. (In the morning of Thursday what was thought 1o be the Twofold Hay light was seen, but this was subsequently found to be the Gobo Island light, the heavy southerly set, which was reported to have been the cause of the wreck of the steamer Malabar at Long Bay, having swept the Oimara southward. The yacht was then forced to ride out a south-west gale for four days and when this moderated >he was put on her course again. No food was looked during the gale owing ro the lively antics of the vessel and the two new hands were confined to their bunks. However, on Eastei | Monday the erew had a big feast, as jin addition to tinned goods, they slii' I hud a supply of eggs and fresh vegetables. Another call on their list w:iEden. but on putting in to what was thought to be their port of call the,'', found that it was merely a cluster ol farm buihlingss. There was genuine regret about the mistake, particularly as all hands’ had shaved and dressed, uf for the occasion.

“About 7 o'clock that evening a | south-west squall hit us with, a terrific wallop,” said Mr. Constance. “There were only two of us to reef the main sail and it was the most terrifying experience of my life. Wc had the mizzen and a jib on her to steady her and we literally fought the heavy canvas of Oimara’s sail to get it snugged down. “My fingernails wore bleeding and 1 had welts on my fa«ee where the flapping canvas had been lashing inc. This blow also lasted for four days and when it abated we were about opposite the entrance to the Gippsland Lakes, having made only 30 miles in the four days. On Friday afternoon die weather began to clear and wo set a course for AVilson Promontory with a north-cast breeze. “By tnis time wc were short of frosh ’ provisions, as wc had laid in only five ? days’ supply in view of our intention to make coastal calls. We had m» bread, butter, sugar, or tea. Our mainstay was biscuit shipped at Auckland, rice and golden syrup. Wc camo up with Wcllspool Harbour after dark and tried to sail in, the engine again being out of commission, but after hitting the bar five times we put out and sailed about outside all night. “By daylight the wind had dropped and wc sought our breakfast with the fishing lines. With two of us fishing, one cleaning and myself cooking, we all breakfasted handsomely on flatheads.” Cordial Welcome at Melbourne. Wellspool was finally made and the crew received a cheery welcome from the residents. Here the Oimara remained three days, during which the engine was repaired. The owner, Air. F. J. Bennell, and and his two relatives left by train for Melbourne ami they were replaced by Air. Frank Bennell and a hired seaman who had been sent up from Melbourne. There were thus four men to take the yacht; on the last 350 miles of the trip. On entering Port Phillip Bay they passed the Antarctic ship Discovery outward bound for Wellington. An idea of the wide expanse of the bay was given by Air. Constance, who said that on the way from the entrance to Melbourne they were out of sight of land and had to set a.compass course. Alclbourne was reached on April 19 and this being Sunday the yachtsmen I of the port were able to turn out in numbers to welcome the Oimara. Mr. Constance said the welcome ext ended to himself as a New Zealander was particularly warm and friendly. During his slay members of the leading yacht clubs spared no effort to entertain him. RANCH’S QUALIFICATIONS. i SPEED OFF THE WIND. The statement of one of Teddy’s crew, Air. R. Goodwin, that had Teddy experienced the same weather during the Tasman race as that met with on

her return voyage she would have been the only boat in the contest, was questioned by Mr. E. Spraggon, one of the Rangi’s crew. Teddy met with easterly weather on her return, which would have been a fair wind to Sydney, Air. Spraggon said. In the fair wind at the start of the race Rangi, starting 40 minutes later, passed Oimara three miles this side of Tiri and Teddy in the Tiri passage, which proved her to be faster in a fair wind. On the Australian coast, sailing under a bare, stay-sail before a howling gale and -with a heavy following sen, Rangi ran 85 miles in .18 hours, which proved that, she could run in bad as well as in fine weather. Ha.l Teddy or any other yacht been alongside more ; sail would have boon set and it would then have been shown what Rangi Uould do in heavy weather.