Yachts

The Cruising

Yacht Club Of

AUSTRALIA reports

from Sydney:

Just returned from Vanuatu (formerly New Hebrides) Cruising Yacht Club’s Race Director Peter Rysdyk advised that a new sponsor was found for the Sydney to Port-Vila yacht race. (The previous sponsor. Bums Philp, cancelled its sponsorship fol lowing a review of its travel business in Vanuatu. PIM.)

Rysdyk, responsible for C.Y.C.’s

highly successful Noumea Race and many others, claims that the new Vila Race, now known as the “Ber keley Vila Race” is destined to be come Australia’s most popular long distance passage race, not only for the unspoiled and beautiful Pacific cruising waters in the Vanuatu group but also for the unique nature of this race.

Long ocean races in the past have been marred by the monotonous “water and sky syndrome”, result ing in crew boredom. Not so in this new race. Starting in Sydney on Saturday, May 16, 1984, the yachts will sail for Lord Howe Island, through a gate between the island and amazing Balls Pyramid, then to Nor folk Island where the gate is between Phillip and the main island, followed by Anatom, the most southerly island in the Vanuatu group. From there, yachts can choose their own course to Port-Vila but will always enjoy the beautiful islands.

Powerful radio beacons on Lord Howe, Norfolk and Port-Vila will make navigating a cinch and the C.Y.C. is placing a temporary light house and radio beacon on Anatom to facilitate the yachts.

The president of the republic of Vanuatu has agreed to be the Race Official Starter.

Entry forms from the Cruising Yacht Club of Australia, New Beach Road, Darling Point, N.S.W. 2027.

Lan G. Menzies Re

ports from Port Mores

by and Kieta, Papua

New Guinea:

• HILDA RUTH. Neil Lockwood is a school teacher who, after 10 years of hard work in the United Kingdom, decided that he would get away from it all for 18 months. As he is both a very keen and experienced mountaineer, as well as a yachting enthusiast, Neil had a difficult choice to make. Yachting won the day how ever, when he purchased his Bm.

Endeavour cutter, Hilda Ruth, and decided to take a short cruise to the

Canaries, there to do a spot of climb ing. Neil departed Poole, his home port in the south of England, in August ’B2 and made safe passage to the Canaries, but from there things sort of “snowballed”. Friendly fel low cruising yachties convinced him he should cross the Atlantic, which he did, and then spent two glorious months in the Caribbean. The next stop was the Panama Canal and hav ing got that far he decided to keep on going all the way round.

From the canal, Neil planned a 35day passage to the Marquesas it was not to be. Hurricane William appeared on the scene and what should have been a pleasant passage for our single-hander, turned out to be 72 days of sheer frustration. At times he was totally becalmed, then he was tossed about like a cork as he was caught up in cyclonic seas and winds. In one particular incident, Neil hove-to for 17 hours under a minute staysail, lashed the tiller to starboard, and was then continuously battered by heavy seas that drove him back along his original track some 120 miles. Neil’s log records his frustration, for that 120 miles had taken him six days to cover in almost doldrum conditions, before he was swept up in the hurricane.

Neil expressed amazement that

Hilda Ruth survived the pounding at all, for she is a stock GRP production model, and was not especially fitted out for long-distance cruising. He attributes his boat’s performance in such adverse conditions to her full heavy keel, and her overall weight of 8 tonnes, quite heavy for a boat of her size. During the storms he en

countered, all mast-head fittings were completely blown away and Neil was forced to batten down in the saloon with his feet wedged against the compression post.

A lazy month in French Polynesia helped to wipe the slate clean from then on Neil made good times and comfortable passages. Across the Pacific Neil used French charts, but decided that he would like to get some English up-dates before tackl ing Torres Strait hence the stopov er in Port Moresby. The problem was however he had no detailed charts of Papuan coastline, so after making landfall he “felt” his way up the coast outside the main reef. By dead reckoning he considered he was fair ly close to Port Moresby when he sighted a large oil tanker just off the coast.

As the seas were rising and he wanted to seek protection inside the reef, he called up the tanker on his VHF and requested confirmation of his position and directions to the entrance passage to Port Moresby.

His query prompted a chuckle to come back over the VHF, with the reply, “I think that we are not really the best people to ask for directions we happen to be at the entrance to Basilisk Passage, but on the reef!”

The unknown voice was that of the chief of the salvage crew on board the 80,000-tonne tanker Manhattan Duke that had run aground on the reef only two days earlier. With the true camaradie of the sea, however, he was guided via VHF through Basilisk Passage, around the lurking inner reefs, to within sight of the main wharf and adjacent Royal Papua Yacht Club.

While in Port Moresby, Neil put Hilda Ruth against the careening poles for a good scrub, before depart ing for Darwin where he will take a month off and “bus it” around Aust ralia. Neil hopes to be back in the United Kingdom by March ’B4 and will travel via South Africa. What started out as a short and relaxing cruise to the Canaries, has ended up being a fairly swift single-handed

circumnavigation.

• SARABANDE. It is said that one whole Kauri tree went into the build ing of this fine 22-year-old Woolacott ketch, which was original -

Alongside the careening poles at the Royal Papua Yacht Club, Port Moresby, is the Endeavour cutter Hilda Ruth which sur vived the fury of Hurrican Wil liam. Owner-skipper Neil Lock wood (that’s him at work on the hull in the lower picture) is a UK teacher who is making a single handed circumnavigation.

ly launched in Kawakawa Creek near Auckland, New Zealand. Under pre vious owners she has already com pleted a circumnavigation, and has cruised extensively through the South Pacific and Indian Oceans as well as Indonesian waters.

Max Kean purchased her from a mooring in Rushcutters Bay, Syd ney, and she is now under his “com mand”. He has sailed her through New Caledonia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands and into PNG waters. Max had hoped to cruise once again into Indonesian waters, but in their wis dom the “Indon Authorities” can celled the cruising permit.

Sarbande is flourishing under ten der loving care, while Max ponders where to go next, meanwhile enjoy ing the hospitality of the Royal Papua Yacht Club. • SUNRAKER 11. An Alan Gurney designed 13 m sloop built in New York for the CSY Charter Fleet in 1969, Sunraker II weighs only SVi tonnes and has GRP spars.

Skipper/owner Dr Art Howard has been cruising the Pacific for three and half years and generally has a crew of four on board. The entire cruise has been a series of pleasant and uneventful passages, except when the yacht lost its rudder off Pitcairn Island and was forced to sail to Tahiti under jury-rigged rudder.

Art and his present crew sailed from Port Stevens on Australia’s east coast at the end of March and cruised through the Whitsunday Islands where they had the chance to prove that some cruising boats can really move in the Hamilton Island Race.

From Townsville they made passage for Tagula Island in the Louisiade Archipelago and explored these beautiful islands.

Art considers this area to be one of the finest unspoilt cruising grounds in the Pacific (let’s hope future cruising yachties keep it so). All on board were delighted with the kindness of these islands people, and enjoyed bartering T-shirts for crayfish and local produce they even have a screen- printing set-up on board for

decorating T-shirts.

The crew on board Sunraker II come from varied walks of life and yet are entirely compatible. Here is some background on this easy-going group: Randy Durbin from Canada joined the yacht at Mooloolooba in southern Queensland in mid-April. This is his first experience at cruising and he is loving it. Randy is a baker by trade and produces Chelsea Buns as his gourmet treat much to the delight of the rest of the crew.

Mark Dupee hails from California and had previously sailed from the Caribbean with Art, but stopped off in Tahiti to build boats with the

locals. He rejoined in Townsville and hopes to work in Durban before completing his circumnavigation back to the Caribbean.

Paul Tunks, a former professional fisherman from the east coast of Tasmania, helped to fit out the yacht for its present cruise. With his girl friend Kerri McKenna, who has ta ken to cruising “like a duck to water”, Paul is thoroughly enjoying his first experience of the cruising lifestyle. Though all on board take a turn in the galley, it is Kerri McKen na who has taken all the prizes,

producing “magnificent meals”,

even in a seaway.

Not to be forgotten is the Burmese cat “Shakaroo” otherwise affec tionately known as “Chow Mein, Sharkbait, Kahlua or just Bloody Nuisance”. “Shakaroo” is quite a character, and even enjoys wind surfing as long as it sits in its special shoe box to keep its paws dry!

From Port Moresby, Sunraker II and her happy crew will sail to Thursday Island, Darwin, Bali, Cocos Islands and then to Mauritius and on to Durban. • XIPHIAS. In Greek mythology Xiphias was the fish god, while in modem-day terminology it is the scientific name for the sword fish whatever the interpretation, or the reason for so naming her, Roger Olson can be justly proud of his beautifully maintained vessel. Now lying serenely moored off the Kieta Sailing and Cruising Club, Xiphias is the modern-day GRP version of the classic Bristol Channel Cutter.

Her solidly constructed 8.5 metres have carried Roger across the Pacific from* California over a period of

Australian Paul Tunks on board Sunraker II. Formerly a profes sional fisherman in Tasmania, he helped fit out the yacht for its present cruise.

almost five years. His fastest passage was from the U.S. to the Marquesas some 3200 miles in only 22 days an average of 6 knots! In New Zealand he was not so lucky, as he was caught in local floodwaters that swept him out of his anchorage at speeds in excess of 15 knots. Many yachts foundered that day because they had been left unattended, but as Roger was on board he was able to save his vessel with only minor

damage.

Xiphias will now be moored in Kieta for some while, as Roger has been able to secure a position with

the giant Bougainville Copper an

exdellent opportunity to replenish his cruising budget.

I close with a follow-up on cruis

ing yachts reported in previous

columns. • HORNET. (PIM Sept. ’B2 p. 65.) This 13m GRP sloop owned by Dr Dale Huber, with his wife Jeri and daughter Maureen on board, made safe passage to Singapore where they spent several months. From there they sailed to Cochin, located about 960 km south of Bombay on India’s west coast. They decided to slip at Cochin for anti-fouling; their advice to other cruising yachties is “don’t” it proved to be expensive, with

poor workmanship.

The last postcard received indi cates that they are now cruising the Greek islands, mainly under motor as there is virtually no wind. The Hub ers indicated that the passage through the Red Sea and the Suez Canal was beset by contrary winds and official dom at its worst not recommend ed. From the Greek Isles Hornet will cruise the Mediterranean and then head west for the Caribbean.

• Tamapatum. (Pim Feb P 56).

Back at the Royal Papua Yacht Club in Port Moresby after cruising for six

months or so in the Solomon and Trobriand Islands, is the yacht Tamapatum with Nick and Kay Ba son and their two children.

The family will be living on board in Port Moresby for some time, as Nick has secured a position in his

profession as a quantity surveyor with a local company of architects.

Kay Bason, who has turned her hand to writing, will be putting together some cruising articles as well as

reporting on cruising yachts passing

through Port Moresby.

• Independence. (Pim Jul

p5B). The inimitable single-hander Jamie Wycoff and his Islander 33 Independence, passed through Port Moresby on his way to Darwin. His last cheery words as he slipped his moorings at the RPYC were, “I’ll send you a Christmas card from South Africa!” • GROG. (PIM May p 65.). Last reported in Lae, PNG, after having a new mast stepped. Grog is now safely anchored at Mandaue City in Cebu, Philippines, and is still sailing in company with David Robinson’s Mason 33, Rainbow’s End.

Had a delightful luncheon (mainly cool amber liquid) on board Grog with Dennis Langtry and Kathie Har ris, when I caught up with them on a recent visit to Cebu. The vessels intend to stay in Cebu for a while the weather is pleasant and the living in certainly inexpensive before pushing on to Hongkong after the typhoon season. • For information of my many cruising friends, I will be living in Darwin by September, and can be contacted either through the Darwin Yacht Club or by mail at P.O. Box 3569, Darwin, Northern Territory, 5794, Australia.

Radio Vanuatu

reports from Port-Vila:

Two English yachties, David Wright and Anne Schorr survived the wreck of their boat Pursuit of Nantucket on the night of August 8-9 at Port-Vato on Ambrym, Vanuatu. They said on their arrival in Port-Vila that they woke at 2 a.m. on Tuesday August 9 to the sound of thundering surf to find themselves rapidly approaching the breakers.

The engine was started but before the anchor could be pulled in, they hit the bottom, and within half an hour their boat was a total wreck.

Mr Wright and Ms Schorr would like their friends to know that they are safe, and to thank Enos Fanalo of Sanesup, David Bong of Port-Vato, and all the villagers for their help and

hospitality.

The two survivors lost everything they had on board as there was no chance of salvaging any of their personal belongings.

Randy Durbin of Sunraker II, visiting PNG ports, tries his skill as a baker and displays the result in the galley.

(Above) Roger Olson’s Bristol Channel cutter Xiphias moored off the Kieta Sailing and Cruis ing Club in Bougainville, PNG. (Above left) A visitor to Port Moresby earlier this year was this little sloop Pamir, single handed from Australia by Paul Wheeler.

The Nauru Bulletin re

ports from Nauru:

Mike Hopross, 8.A., B.Sc., an Irishman living in Trinidad, started out on a sailing trip around the Pacific from Trinidad two years ago in his 9 m long and 5 m wide catamaran, Angel .Angel has a sail of approximately 46 square metres and, with good winds, is able to cruise at a maximum speed of 15-16 knots. It is an American design which took Mike and his father three years to build.

Mr Hopross arrived in Nauru on August 12, having sailed from the Caribbean islands, French Polynesia, Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and Ocean Is land. From here, Mr Hopross will sail to Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea.

Tohi Tala Niue Re

ports from Alofi, Niue:

The yacht Extravagance which we have been hearing a lot about has now arrived and is anchored at the Alofi roadstead.

The Extravagance will be a base vessel for Brian and Margret Sayers’ tourist venture called Adventure Holidays. These will include bush walks, scuba diving, snorkelling and whatever a customer may fancy, within reason.

Mr Sayers says he’s been interest ed in enhancing Niue’s clear blue

waters as a tourist attraction. He adds that he’ll stay on Niue for at least 12 months, and if nothing comes of his venture he will go back to New Zealand.

The Extravagance is designed so it can be lifted out of the water during the hurricane season, Mr Sayers is having a cradle built because he wants to lift the yacht out soon to do some minor repairs after running into some strong fronts near the Ker madec Islands.

Mr Sayers is one of New Zealand’s most experienced diving instructors, and is currently technical adviser to the New Zealand Diving Association.

The Fiji Times Re

ports from Suva:

An Austrian mermaid, Florimell, is visiting our waters before continuing a four-year world cruise.

The 11 m catamaran, which was built in 1970, belongs to Mr and Mrs Waltraud Klarner, from Vienna, Austria.

Florimell was built in England and belonged to an Englishman who sold it to the Klarners five years ago.

The Klarners sail the catamaran mainly in the Mediterranean and keep her in a marina in Italy.

They embarked on their world cruise from Italy in 1981 and sailed to Gibraltar, Canary Islands, the Caribbean where they spent six months, and then to Venezuela, Panama, Ecuador and, for another six months, French Polynesia, Samoa, and Tonga.

Florimell arrived in Suva with Mr and Mrs Klamer and their daughter, Tanja, 12.

Kay Bason, from the yacht Tamapatum, interviews Mark Du pee of Sunraker II. Kay Ba son will write future reports for PIM on cruising yachts in Port Moresby.