Waiting to sail to America

WAITING TO SAIL TO AMERICA

ELEVEN-TON CRAFT AT DARTMOUTH

The auxiliary sailing vessel Bendilow, of Portsmouth, a one-time Morecambe prawner, 42ft. long, 11 tons, is to sail from Dartmouth at the end of this month for New York. The craft is now in Dartmouth Harbour, where her owner, Mr. Carlton Wallace, a writer of “thrillers,” is interviewing applicants (he requires two) for the trip.

The yacht, which is cutter-rigged, could be housed in a large drawing-room, and has already proved her seaworthiness, for at the end of May she was caught in a storm, and appeared doomed, when the Sandown lifeboat was called to her assistance.

Mr. and Mrs. Wallace and a hand, who were on board at the time, refused help, and although they had been asked to abandon the vessel, outrode the storm. The youth who had been engaged as deck-hand left after the storm.

Interviewed on board the Bendilow in Dartmouth Harbour, Mr. Wallace told a “Western Morning News” representative that they expected to sail at the end of this month. They would follow the northerly course to New York, their first port of call being St. John’s, Newfoundland, where they would replenish water and stores.

EAGER APPLICANT.

His wife and he left Portsmouth determined to make the crossing themselves, working the ship to Dartmouth, but found out en route that the Bendilow is a bit too heavy for them to manage comfortably in bad weather. He had advertised for hands, 30 applicants replying. He was at present interviewing some of those applicants, one of whom had walked from London.

Mr. Wallace met his wife [Margaret Helen (Grant) Wallace] in romantic circumstances. He thought some years ago of sailing round the world, and a friend told him of a girl who would be suitable [as] one of the crew. The trip did not materialize, as it would have taken four years to make, but the young woman became Mrs. Wallace.

It is not certain yet whether Mrs. Wallace will make the trip to America; Mr. Wallace does not think so, as he is concentrating on engaging two hands, and three aboard the little craft does not allow too much room.

(Western Morning News, 16th July 1937)