Modern Vikings enlist the aid of Modern Science

Radio Record, Volume IV, Issue 34, 6 March 1931, Page 3

Modern Vikings enlist the aid of Modern Science

+ RESH proof that British hearts still throb with that spirit 7] of adventure which spurred on the Vikings of old is still forthcoming. May we, as sea-bound isles, be duly thankful that this spirit still lives-even to the extent that mature business men voluntarily forsake the comforts and luxuries of home life for the tang of the salt-sea breeze, the cramped quarters, buffeting, and other discomforts of an ocean voyage in a tiny sailing craft. The modern adventurer wisely enlists the aid of practical science, and so it is that practically every soundly-planned venture of this description nowadays counts in radio as an indispensable ‘ adjunct. . It is evidence of prudent preparation, therefore, that the Melbourne yacht Oimara, which with its crew of five has just completed the outward leg of a visit to New Zealand, was equipped for the voyage with complete radio transmitting and receiving plant. The Oimara is a ketch-rigged craft of some 43ft. length, and being of beamy and sturdy build is well fitted to come through the stormy Tasman Sea to Wellington with flying colours, and all shipKe hape. Divided by two bulkheads into three sections, the forecastle or ’ foremost of these provides sleeping accommodation fot two members of the crew. Amidships is the cabin with bunks for three _ more, and numerous racks and lockers for the crockery and the multifarious items needed to satisfy the cravings of five apparently very healthy appetites, over a period of three months, N the clear, the cabin must approximate 12ft.. x 7ft. 6in., with ample head room for even a tall man to stand upright. ‘Aft of the cabin is a comparatively spacious engine-room which houses a 20 horse-power Diesel engine, used as an auxiliary means of propulsion. NO, We return again to the cabin, however, for it is here that our main interest lies-namely, the radio equipment. The transmitter is a two-valve crystal-controlled job, ‘built up by VK3GT of the Technical Staff of the "Listener In," an Australian contemporary.

A small suitcase houses all the gear, whilé the transmitting key is secured to the inside of the lid, so that when the transmitter is lifted down from its shelf on to the operator’s bunk, and the ‘lid of the case opened, the key is in a convenient operating position-the set may, however, be operated in its position on the bulkhead, so that it is always ready for use. The transmitter power supply is: from a bank of 12-volt lead-acid batteries packed in wooden boxes next the operator’s bunk and partly under the cabin table.

Filament current comes direct from the batteries through heavy cabtyre flex, while for high-voltage plate supply the 12-volt current is led in at one end of a "dynamotor" to emerge at the other end of. the machine as direct current of some 500 volts potential; this high voltage being led to the transmitter in rubber cabtyre. HE crystal control feature keeps the transmitted frequency con stant, even though the yacht be tossing heavily in a seaway. Just out of the picture is an equally important item in any radio instal-lation-the receiver-this being a Philips type 2802 all-wave model, with plug-in coils covering all wavelengths from 10 to 2100 metres. Four valves are provided, the first being a screened grid radio frequency amplifier, followed by a regenerative detector, one of. straight audio-frequency and a pentode. The latter valve was not used, though a loudspeaker is fitted, as reception was’ so good that all traffic was worked on three valves while many distant shortwave broadcast stations all over the world were heard on the trip. In addition to personal messages, a considerable amount of Press traffic was ‘transmitted via the Sydney station, VIS, to the "Herald," the Melbourne newspaper which had loaned the transmitter for the voyage. Mr. Bennell stated that some Dunedin amateurs had been of assistance to the yacht’s crew in transmitting weather reports to the Oimara. Mr. S. Perkins, ZL2GK, had also sent out weather reports to the yacht. In the case of the Dunedin station, a stiff blow was being experienced at the time, and the boat would probably have been hove-to for a period had not the weather report indicated that they had just crossed the centre of the depression, and accordingly the yacht carried on to take full advantage of the ‘favourable winds while they lasted. All on board conceded that their radio results had been "very much worth while. The call-sign VJNY was allotted, and the radio installation thus placed on a commercial basis. | In addition to the owner and radio operator (Mr. Monks) and the owner (Mr. F. J. Bennell), the Oimara carried other interesting personalities, the skipper being Captain H. J. Symonds, a professional seaman of Jong experience in sail (Continued on page 22)!

Modern Vikings

(Concluded from page 3.) who deserves a whole article himselfa genial son of the sea, particularly fitted to skipper:such a venture. One of his previous exploits was bringing out the auxiliary yawl Seaweed, a boat only some 50 feet long, from Southampton, England, to Melbourne, Australia. His only "crew" were his wife and another man, Lieut.-Commander Juler, a_ retired officer of the Royal Australian Navy, made a good "mate," so that the navigation of the vessel was in very capable: hands, this resulting in a.perfect landfall being made. Mr. Bennell, jun., acted as engineer, presiding over the 20 horse-power Diesel engine which was used during calm spells, advantage being taken of this to charge up the 12-volt batteries for the transmitter. The Oimara .left Wellington for Auckland last Thursday, as more favourable winds for the-home trip could be expected from there than from Wellington. Mr.’ Monks having returned to Sydney by the Ulimaroa, the yacht is at present without a licensed operator. but it is understood that several have volunteered for duty on the return trip, and it is just possible that a New Zealander will have charge of the Morse key when the Oimara sails from Auckland in the course of h few days’ time. As, however, the boat may sail without a regular operator, amateurs are requested to keep a listening watch for signals emanating from the Oimara, and if there. is occasion to answer these, to transmit very slowly, so that the messages may be successfully copied by an inexperienced operator. We wish them "Bon Voyage" and "Kia Ora."