Death of Gerbault

Famous Yachtsman and Writer

AFTER almost three years, it has only recently been revealed that that Pacific wanderer and writer, Alain Gerbauit, died in Dilli, Portuguese Timor, just before Allied forces landed there in December, 1941. Gerbauit was a French man, 39 years old.

He won fame first as an international tennis star in the early 20’s, but in 1923 he turned his back on civilisation to begin his restless wanderings. Single-handed, he sailed a small yacht across the Atlan tic, from Cannes to New York, in 142 days. In the US he built himself a 10tons ketch, the “Firecrest” and began to rove the Pacific in a long voyage that kept him outside the confines of civilisa tion for six years.

In two books, “The Flight of the Fire crest” and “In Quest of the Sim,” he left fascinating records of his voyagings in Pacific islands off the beaten track.

He returned to Europe in 1931; but soon announced that he would make another Pacific wander, this time in a new yacht, “Firecrest II.” “Firecrest II” was lost in a storm and he then built the “Alain Gerbauit.” He spent the rest of his life in the Pacific and in the late 30’s seemed to have settled in the Society Islands. He was on the wander again at the outbreak of war and, shortly before Pearl Harbour, announced that he had completed anQther book, but that it would not be published until after the war.