'CROATIAN TERN' SAILING BOAT LEAVES CHILEAN HARBOUR OF VALDIVIA

ZAGREB, Nov 20 (Hina) - A Croatian sailing boat "Croatian Tern", Wednesday left the Chilean harbour of Valdivia sailing toward Antarctica. The boat's eight-member crew, that successfully ended its sports and exploring enterprise of sailing by the Arctic, included six Croatians and two Slovenians, said the helmsman and a man who originated an idea of the Croatian Tern project, Mladen Sutej. Before the journey around the Cape Horn, the boat had got new sails designed for most difficult conditions of sailing, which the boat would face around Antarctica, Sutej said. The final aim of the Croatian Tern is to sail around the world by meridians' directions (North-South), approaching the North and South Poles by using only sails, what no one has managed so far. The Croatian Tern is a special sailing boat designed by American Bruce Roberts. The boat, 23 metres long and 5.5 metres long, weighs 45 tonnes. After passing the dangerous northwestern passage at the Arctic area, that is navigable only five weeks in year, on September 9, 1995, the boat is expected to sail around the Cape Horn several times in a month and a half and enter the Antarctic waters. The boat, that left its domicile harbour of Kraljevica two years ago, is scheduled to return to Croatia in May next year. (hina) mš 201611 MET nov 96