TASMAN RECORDS ALL BROKEN

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Volume 81, Issue 9, 4 October 1937, Page 4

TASMAN RECORDS ALL BROKEN

-Presa Assn.— 1

Awatea Crosses in Under 55 \ Hours AVERAGE 0F 23 KNOTS

(By Telejrraph

fooyright.)

(Received 4, 10.4Q a.m.) SYDNEY, Oct. 3. The Awatea broke all records for the Tasman crossing when she arrived at ' Sydney at 10.50 o'clock to-night. The crossing occupied 55 hours. 29 minntes at an average speed of 23.3 knots, 80 that the time was 2 hours 2 minutes faster than her previous best run. The Awatea's 24-hour run of 576 nautieal miles is claimed to be a record for a merchant ship south of the equator, beating the Awatea's own record by 21 axinutes. The weather throughout the trip was fine, The Awatea made a spectacular entry into Sydney, being a blaze of light from end to end, and her powerful searcblights were playing on the clouds. Captain Davey said that the engines were not forced. There had been not more than a fractional variation in the vessel 's speed throughout the 55 J hours. If driven hard, the Awatea could further reduce her time. The Prime Minister, the Rt. Hon. J. A. Lyons, sent a message of congratulation to Captain Davey. There was great enthusiasm among the passengers on the Awatea. Considerable interest was taken in the ship's progress in Sydney, as her times wfere being constantly broadcast by the radio stations and had been featured in the morning papers. Captain Davey said: "We are all well satisfied with t'he record. There will not be a further attempt to better it.'' »