PACIFIC CRUISE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23269, 11 February 1939, Page 15

PACIFIC CRUISE

AMERICAN SCHOONER ARRIVAL FROM CALIFORNIA ROUGH WEATHER OFF COAST YACHT'S FINE EQUIPMENT A yachtman's ideal is represented in the neat lines, roomy build and trim rig of the American pleasure schooner, Navigator, which arrived at Auckland early yesterday morning after a voyage of 37 days from San Pedro, California. Under the command of Captain F. K. Klebingat, the 48-ton auxiliary yacht is to be used by its owner, Mr. Harton G. Singer, junior, a prominent Pittsburgh banker, for deep-sea fishing in northern waters and subsequently for a Pacific cruise.

A stormy prelude to the long Pacific voyage was provided when the yacht ran into heavy weather off the Californian coast. After several days, conditions moderated, but hopes for a speedy passage to New Zealand were threatened when the boom of the mainsail snapped some 10ft. from the after end. The remainder of the voyage has been made with a storm trysail rigged from the mainmast, but a new boom will be fitted at Auckland. Voyage to Pago Pago Fair weather and an uneventful voyage was then experienced to Pago Pago, American Samoa, which was reached on January 27, the yacht leaving on the following day on the second leg of the cruise to New Zealand. Admirable sailing conditions again prevailed until last Monday, when speed was reduced and sail taken in on account of a freshening gale from the south-west. Increasing seas finally forced the schooner to heave-to at 5.45 p.m., and it was not until 36 hours later that she was under way again.

The remaining 200 miles to the New Zealand coast were accomplished without incident, and a landfall was made on Thursday morning at the Poor Knights, off the Whangarei coast. The schooner passed Tiri Tiri the same night and anchored in the stream near the Devonport Naval Base at four o'clock yesterday morning. She moved under power to her berth at St. Mary's Bay shortly after nine o'clock. Power and-sail combined to give the Navigator a comparatively rapid transpacific voyage. However, in order to maintain schedule, the 50-horsepower, heavy duty Diesel engine was used almost constantly, giving the yacht a speed of about eight or* nine knots. Modern Radio Apparatus

Utility rather than extreme luxury is tho characteristic of the arrangements. below deck. From the main hatchway entrance is gained to the saloon, in a corner of which is also fitted the 30-watt radio transmitting and receiving apparatus. Maintained by fully qualified operators, the plant has enabled the yacht to be in constant twoway communication with San Francisco and other land and shipping stations throughout the transpacific voyage. Two guest rooms and the owner's cabin adjoin the saloon, all being within a few feet of the bathroom and shower. Forward of this is the galley, in which a large gas stove, running hot and cold water, and electric refrigeration for all classes of produce are but three of many modern features. Previous Visit ol Captain

New Zealand waters ore well known to Captain Klebingat and the mate, Mr. F. Aderman, for both have previously visited tho Dominion with tho vaclit" Fisherman, which Mr. Zane Grey, noted American angler, brought for big-game fishing some years ago. Until the arrival of Mr. Singer and his guests next Friday by the Monterey from San Francisco, the cruising plans for the Navigator cannot be hxed. However, it is expected that she will leave for the fishing grounds on February 19 or '2O. and that she will depart in' the middle of April for tho Pacific Islands, en route to Honolulu and California.