GRAIN RACE ENDS

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume 83, Issue 27, 3 February 1939, Page 9

GRAIN RACE ENDS

LAST SAILER HOME FINNISH BARQUE PENANG LONDON, Dec. 21. The Finnish barque Penang, with a cargo of last season's wheat from South Australia, passed The Lizard on December 15, 210 days out from Port Victoria, South Australia. It was one of the four slowest voyages by a wheat “windjammer” since 1921. The arrival of the Penang marks the end of the “grain race” of 1938. It was one of the most eventful since the series commenced in 1921. In this year’s “race” the German training ship Admiral Karpfanger was lost with all hands—the greatest tragedy of sail since the disappear - ance of the Kobnhaven. The old Winterhude was reported missing, but turned up, after a most eventful passage, returning home via the Cape of Good Hope, because her master would not essay the Cape Horn route with a small crew. The Penang was partially dismasted by a fierce squall in the South Pacific. The ship was under full canvas when the storm broke and was almost lost. She put into Port Chalmers under jury rig and spent some months refitting in New Zealand.

The slowest grain voyage since 1921 was the ill-fated last voyage of the American six-masted barquentine E. R. Sterling in 1927. The passage toon 286 days. After being partially dismasted in the South Atlantic the E. R. Sterling sailed 2200 miles under jury rig to the West Indies, and was towed the remainder of the way to London. The second slowest passage--241 days—was made by the Admiral Karpfanger, then named L'Avenir, which was lost in this year’s race. The vessel was returning via the Cape of Good Hope and was badly damaged byheavy weather in the Indian Ocean and several months were spent refitting at Port Natal. In 1928 the Favell, after an eventful voyage, reached England in 210 days.