SEA EGG

John Riding arrived in New Zealand as part of his goal to circumnavigate the globe in his 12ft long sloop, the Sea Egg. An Englishman, Riding had already sailed half way around the world and the crossing of the Tasman would've completed the Pacific Ocean section of his circumnavigation. Two books, about his sailing experiences, helped make him the best known microyacht sailor of his era.

My information about his 1973 Tasman attempt is very sketchy. I know he started out from Kawau, which is on the north-east coast of New Zealand's North Island. His passage was planned to last 66 days, with his destination being Sydney, Australia.

John Riding never made it across the Tasman - he simply failed to appear and was eventually declared to be "lost at sea". No trace of the Sea Egg was ever found. According to information attributed to Michael Brien, whose yacht Swirly World towed the Sea Egg to Kawau, Riding had been depressed about leaving New Zealand. Sailing meant spending more time apart from his girlfriend in the UK and also from another girlfriend he had in New Zealand.

email aerohydro