YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1889, 25 October 1913, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Mainsiwet.]

TRIP OF THE YAWL MATANQI, Wellington to Auokland. The yawl Matangi, owned by Mr. H. E. While, architect, of Wellington, arrived ?n Auckland after a stormy voyage from Wellington, on Sunday, October 12. On her arrival, says tho "New Z/ealaJid Yachtsman," it could bo plainthat sho had recpived a buffeting, while her crow boro a tired appearance. A broken sky-light and other signs of rough usago gave evidence that tho passage had been a stormy ono. When tho veiisel took her departure from Wellington, her crew consisted of four, viz., Messrs. A. Roberts/master), W. Petersen, J. Knilands, and E. Scoots, but on arrival at Napier, Knilands and Scoots left, and H. Rountreo joined, leaving hor manned by only three for tho remainder of tho trip Mr. Roberts was interviewed by a representative of "Tiio Yachtsman," and gave an account of the trip. "via Loavo Wellington." "We left Wellington Boat Harbour (said Mr. Roberts) on September 29 at .8 p.m., with a light northerly breeze. A call was made at Seatoun, where another member of the crew was picked up, and tho Heads were finally cleared at 9 p.m. Wo were abreast ot Palliser at 3 o'clock in the morning, where a floating spar wag struck and.the bobstay was carried away, and the starboard bulwarks broken. At 8 o'tloek on the following afternoon Castle Point Lighthouso was signalled. When off hero we got into a southerly, and had to put in three reefs, ' A course was now set for Portland Island, and wo got 30 miles off the Ariel Shoal on Wodnos« day night, and then had to put back to Napier for repairs, where we arrived at 9 o'clock. Here I sent a telegram to Wellington explaining maitors. "Under Arrest." "On going ashore again in the morning I was very much surprised to learn the news from the papers that we were 1 under 'arrest,' so I immediately reported the matter to' the police, who did not know anything about it. However, I brought Matangi into Napier, where the authorities put a man aboard on behalf of Mr. White to stop us proceeding any w r iv er " * rcce ' v °d a telegram from Wellington telling mo to await further instructions at Napier. "Mr. Rountree then came up from Wellington with a letter from .Mr. white's solicitor, and everything was amicably settled, except for the Customs, who would not allow us to proceed until thoy wero satisfied that we had a proper certificated master aboard. However, ■having satisfied themselves on this point, wo wero told wo could mako a start on Saturday, and I was still left in charge. Wo were not able to effect repairs by Saturday, and therefore could not get away, and onfMonday the Customs again gave orders that we were not to proceed until wo had been surveyed.

Loading Napier. "After overhauling the . gear, they found that all we wanted were two more rockets and blue lights, and we were finally allowed to continue our trip on Monday, October 8, ivt- 11 p.m. There was a very strong tide against us' when J 6 ™) a 1 somebody 'had tampered with the air valves of our engine and she would not start, and wo .could not stem th© tide without our power, so an anchor was put out until the engine was fixed up. This anchor had to be slipped when wo j*ot away. A westerly wind was mot with from Napier to Portland Island, off which wo arrived at 8 o'clock on Tuesday morning. Wo got off Gisborno nt 12 o'clock the same day, and could not go inside here, as the wind was blowing too strong from tlie nferth-west, so wo decided to proceed to Auckland, and when off Tolago Bay, we met with stich a iieavv sea running from tho north-east, that wo wont about und got to Gable End Foreland, where we lay-to till daylight, running into Gisborne a$ 10 o'clock. At Clsbdrno. "Fresh supplies of benfcino were procured here, and we left on Thursday at I P; m \ with a strong south-easterly, freshening into a gale off East Cape, where heavy water was shipped. After rounding the Cape, we put into Hicks Bay. A son'-westerly gale was experienced here, and as it was no use proceeding with this wind, wo dropped anchor. At 12 o'clock the Bame day wo again got under way, and set a course for Cuvier Island, tho wind settling intoa southerly gale, several heavy seas coming aboardj one of which broke the cabin skylight and flooded tho cabin. At 3 o'clock in the morning tho wind died away, leaving a tremendous sea, and tho engine was of no use. Cuvier i Island light was readied at 6 p.m. on Saturday. We dropped anchor off Cheltenham beach at 3 o'clock on Suni day morning, and waited thero till daybreak, finally arriving under power ill Mechanic's Bay at 8 o'clock. Half an hour later Mr.. White same aboard, and after tho ship had been pumped dry, we Vent for a sail to Motutapu, returning tho same evening." After Arrival. ■ The members of the crew were on ■J 1 atcli for two hours at a time, and were below for four hours, but according to them, they got little or no sleep during the last two days. They were very emphatic m stating that they did not wish tor anothor similar trip, though they uoro satisfied with Matangi's soa-ffoinsr qualities. B h The trip was made at the Worst time of the year the equinoxial season, and although they were only six actual sailirSn •? afc sea ' le Matangi travelled 1000 miles. They are all young men. Mr. Roberts, _ who navigated her, was one of the Eurvii-ora of tho crow of tho Dundonald, which was wrecked at the Auckland Islands in 1907. Ho returned to Wellington on Monday, but Messrs. Rountree and Petersen, who are members of Matangi s crew, remained in Auckland where they intend to reside for the summer months. Matangi, it will be romemborod, was purchased by her present owner from Mr. E. Davis about 12 months ago, and was sailed down to Wellington bv Cap.ain E. 3VI. Stentiford, the vovaco occupying fivo and a half days.