BARQUE PAMIR

Evening Post, Volume CXXV, Issue 20, 25 January 1938, Page 11

BARQUE PAMIR

ARRIVAL AT AUCKLAND

PUBLIC'S KEEN INTEREST

GOOD PASSAGE OUT

Running before a freshening north-north-east wind with every sail set, the Finnish, four-masted barque Pamir arrived at the gates of Auckland on Sunday morning. Passing Tiri Tiri lighthouse shortly after 10 o'clock the barque, one of the largest that has I "visited the port, presented a scene of j gracious beauty as she moved towards Rangitoto* Channel, but sail was shortened as the waiting pilot launch was rieared, states the "New Zealand Herald." By 4.30 p.ni. she had been .made 'fast at King's Wharf, after a welcome by many yachts, arid launches, r,H crowd of several hundred watching her berth. ' , ■: - In this fashion ended a lonely voyage of 72 days from Astove Island, in the Seychelles Group, Indian Ocean. The Pamir's spotless condition, her bright paintwork, and shining brass told of a peaceful journey. Her master, Captain V. Bjorkfelt, a smiling, square-jawed and immaculately-dressed Finn, reflected rather glumly that the voyage had been a little too peaceful. Light winds had delayed the progress of the barque and her royals had been furied only two or three times during the whole passage. ;. The Pamir left Hull in July in ballast for Mahe, the labour-recruiting centre of the Seychelles Group. After a long run of 40 days to the Equator, excellent time was made around the Cape of Good Hope, and Mahe was reached in October. The barque loaded guano for Auckland at Astove Island, and on completion headed for southern waters through the Mozambique Channel. Westerlies generally prevailed as; the barque took the. southabout course for New Zealand and the south of the Dominion was reached in an uneventful 59 days. Once on the New Zealand coast continued light winds impeded the sailing ship's progress and nearly a fortnight was taken to reach Auckland. The nonappearance of the Pamir after being sighted by the Rangitane off the Bay of Plenty, 140 miles away from Auckland,, on Tuesday had puzzled many Aucfclanders, but Captain Bjorkfelt stated that the barque had not reached the Hauraki Gulf until Saturday, j INTEREST OF YACHTSMEN. '■'' Auckland rarely has the opportunity j of seeing a big ship under sail and a number of yachts and launches ran into Rangitoto Channel with the Pamir. The Auckland Harbour Board's Tug William, C. Daldy reached the Pamir some miles beyond Rangitoto beacon, but did not take her immediately in tow. • The barque was making good time and a rolling following sea would have made towing difficult as well as unnecessary.

. By. the time Rangitoto beacon was x-eached the Pamir was running. under upper and lower "topsails on her foremast; and upper topsails ~on,,^er main and rhizzen masts, a spanker and staysail being set on the jigger mast. A large Finnish flag flowed bravely at the , gaftV Quietly and .efficiently the * barque's crew busied themselves on the ' yards taking in sail, a few unhurried ■ . orders the only guide. Eighteen of the Pamir's: complement of 30 are cadets, ■bronzed, healthy, fair-haired youths *' from Finland and Denmark, who are ■•serving for two years under sail as *•? part of their training for officers' certi- *, flcates in steam. MADE FAST TO TUG. '.' ,- The William C. Daidy was made fast ~i in. Rangitoto Channel and shortly afterV wards all sail on the Pamir had been J- taken in. Crowds on the beaches " watched the progress of the barque and large numbers of interested small craft diverted their courses to viewj »•: her at close range. '': . ■-: By way of contrast, the big Nor.----v wegiah tanker South Africa passed to '"■' rjort of the Pamir as the barque was ■breasting the ebb tide up harbour, ■■':'■'■ bound for Bahrein Islands, in the Per- * sian Gulf, a.destination as remote as *r\the-port from which the sailing ship [ir had come. ' , The Pamir had last provisioned at' "*-' Hull, stated the master, but ample food "■' was still in store. It was evident, * however, that ship's fare can grow monotonous after several months, for ? members of the crew did not dis- _ guise their pleasure when a passing ,j launch dropped a sack of apples, Which was retrieved by a boat-hook, a \ few. minutes the after-deck presented "" the appearance of - football field, laughing young ; .seamen scrambling for the fresh fruit. PROUD OF HIS SHIP. Moved to her. berth at the eastern side of King's Wharf by the tugs Te Awhina; and William C. .Daldy, the Pamir was the subject of keen interest to crowds on the wharf, to whom the sight of seamen manning a capstan 1 was a distinct novelty. Great pride in his splendid command was evinced by Captain Bjorkfelt, who was formerly in another wfell-known ship, the Killoran. The heavily-rigged- .--.-, Pamir, Captain Bjorkfelt stated, reV quired moderate to strong winds to be .' at her best and when running before .?■•: .'the wind, or even when pointing into "- it, she was the finest of the Finnish V fleet. ■'■:: .The Pamir will discharge 4500 tons •v-i.'of guano at Auckland and will leave .•■■" in about a fortnight for South Australia to load wheat for the United Kingdom. :