Seafaring Philosopher Reaches
p. 20 · Read in the full issue
In Te Rapunga
Seafaring Philosopher Reaches Tahiti
From Our Own Correspondent PAPEETE, December 26.
JUDGING by the frequent visits of small sailing craft to Tahiti there must be a surprising number of these miniature yachts sailing the ocean in various parts of the world. Nowadays at least a half dozen or so may usually be found tied up along the Papeete water-front.
Some are owned and manned by parties of wild young college lads out on a glorious adventure, some by tired business men in search of tranquillity, and some by more serious persons bent upon scientific dis covery. Other owners, no doubt, will later burst into literature and produce a volume of travel experiences which will at least bring a sardonic grin to the faces of old timers who have survived so many of the same appalling kind.
The latest arrival in Papeete harbour is the 10 ton ketch Te Rapunga, which is only 32 ft. long and relies entirely upon sails. She carries the German flag and is owiied and sailed by George Dibbern who has a crew of two, Roy Murdock and Morris Black. In New Zealand a young lady named Eileen Morris joined the party, thus bringing the total ship’s company to four people.
Mr. Dibbern is travelling for the purpose of studying the various systems of philo sophy existing in different parts of the world, and, since his departure from Kiel at the beginning of 1930, has visited some 20 or more countries and islands. From Kiel the Te Rapunga proceeded to Holland, England. Spain, Portugal, Gibraltar, the French Riviera and Italy, thence by way of the Belearic Islands, Canary Islands and Jamaica to Panama and San Francisco.
Places visited in the Pacific included Hono lulu, Samoa, New Zealand, Australia, and the Cook Islands, While in the antipodes the Te Rapunga carried off the honours in the Tasman yacht race from Auckland to Melbourne, and in the ocean race from Melbourne to Hobart, Tasmania.