LONE SEA VOYAGE

Hokitika Guardian, 28 March 1933, Page 4

LONE SEA VOYAGE

FROM SYDNEY TO’CALIFORNIA.

CRUISE IN AN.OPEN BOAT,

JStYA, Match-11 • lit lettefS to beswents of Suva, Mr F, (Rebell, 'the lone voyager who sailed in This small bout from Sydney to Cali" fornift, describes B°nie of his expert* ences on arriving in America, Very rough weather experienced when Mr ■Rebell was nearing the- American coast gave the adventurer a very trying time. When he arrived at Lo s Angeles his troubles were then not over, for a <a heavy gal e sprang up while he was in- harbour and threw h : <s boat on the; « beach. ■

With the small craft badly damaged, he was compelled to live ashore, and wa,s then arrested by immigration authorities for overstaying his time in the .States. In Honolulu he had been given a seaman’s permit fo r two months, and althought only stayed there five weeks, the remaining time spent on the high seas was apparently included in the two months. .

.“Luckily,” ,says Mr Rebell, ‘‘the press and a few friends took my.side ( and a week later I was released.” He states that lie is preparing tq move on again, and is also breily engaged in writing a book about his experiences.

Mr Rebel's boat, which was a partially covered.sailing boat ) wa s about 20ft. in length, and in this small craft ! he passed through Suva about the middle of last year. He had made most of his equipment himself,, including a peculiar s ex tant, which was examined by local seamen and found to be remarkably accurate. Mr Rebell had little previous knowledge of navigation, and had read the subject Fom •library books some , few months before •he set out on his venture. His 'boat was named Elaine. From Suva he sailed to Samoa and Honolulu, and thence to Log Angeles.