Girl Plans Lone Yacht Journey

Press, Volume CV, Issue 30976, 4 February 1966, Page 17

Girl Plans Lone Yacht Journey

“The Press” Special Service AUCKLAND, Feb. 3.

A 19-year-old dental nurse, Miss Elaine Beaumont-Hogan, of Brown’s Bay, hopes to be the first woman to sail a yacht single-handed around the Pacific. She is building a 21ft Salamander fin keeler in her father's shed at the back of the family house. ! Before taking on lone-* handed a trip to Suva, Miss Beaumont-Hogan proposes to sail her yacht single-handed around New Zealand coastal waters for two years to gain experience. Next month she will begin a course of navigation at Rangitoto College night school. She says she loves the sea, which is in her blood.

Her paternal grandfather was a sea captain in Auckland last century. Her maternal grandfather was a chief engineer at sea all his life and her father, Mr G. Beau-mont-Hogan, has built, sold and sailed boats all his life. His daughter has sailed with him.

Miss Beaumont-Hogan had her own power-boat at 12 years and at present sails a Moth. All her life she has watched her father build boats and she is making good use of his equipment. She finally decided last October to build a boat to sail singlehanded. She chose a design by Mr J. Spencer, of Brown’s Bay. Her craft will have three berths, galley and chart table. The beam is seven feet, length, 21ft and draft three feet six inches. The mast will reach 32ft above water and the boat will have an inboard motor for emergencies.

Miss Beaumont-Hogan expects to have the boat completed by the next boating season.

She chose the design to suit her purse—she could not afford a more expensive boat —and because it was suitable for sailing single-handed. “Dad is with me all the way,” she said, “but mother likes terra finna.”