ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 115, 16 May 1924, Page 8

ADVENTUROUS VOYAGE.

VISION ARRIVES AT TONGA. ',;, CATJGHX IN A CYCIcONE. i 1 ' " AUCKLAND YACHTSMAN'S :_. HOLIDAY. Ou April 1. Mr. James Reid. of Xorthcote, accompanied by Mrs. Reid, his son • lim. and his daughters, Phyllis and Madge, left for a lengthy cruise of the tSoiith Sea Islands in the yacht Vision, a vessel of IS tons register, built by Mr. Reid himself. The adventure was regarded as somewhat of a hazardous nature, but Mr. Reid and his "crew" had much experience in handling their ship on shorter cruises, and they entered upon the voyage with every confidence. Miss Phyllis E. Reid, who can probably be classed as first mate—and a good first mate too—has by request furnished the "Star" with an interesting account of the voyage to Tongatabu as follows: Xf NUKUALOFA, May 7. Tonga at last, after I" days of adverse Winds—calms, storms, head winds, and fair winds. The low-lying island of Tongatabu presented a pleasing prospect after our weary and somewhat perilous journey from Auckland. With a fresh southerly breeze and all canvas set the Vision cleared Prince's wharf at 0.30 a.m. on April 15. At 12 noon, with the tide on the flood and practically becalmed off the Rangitoto .Beacon, we had visions of spending the night in Kawau. However, by 5.30 p.m., with a freshening westerly, we passed Tiritiri light, and with the last of the daylight said good-bye to Auckland Harbour. At 6 a.ni. next morning, much to our disappointment, the wind had dropped completely, and for another 12 hours the Vision rolled helplessly within four miles of Miners' Head. At sunset, when the whole "crew" were desperate, our flapping canvas filled slowly, and before long the skipper deemed it necessary to reduce sail to storm rig— foresail and staysail. We fairly flew along till morning, and carried a fair wind during the day. As if to thwart . our efforts, it dropped completely, and 1 again the Vision rolled helplessly. j Friday, 18th, was uneventful; very | light easterly breeze; just managed to 1 lay our course. Quite suddenly, at (5 p.m. ! on the same day, on account of the wind freshening considerably we liad to shorten sail to storm rig. This gradually decreased in strength, until by morning, with the exception of occasional puffs from the east, there was not enough wind to fill the foresaiL i. Engine Does Good Work. This order of events prevailed throughout the following day, until, with the crew's nerve 3on edge with the flapping and banging, our only salvation seemed the engine. Not until 101 hours of continuous chug-chugging, up one roller and down the next, did any sign of wind arrive, and that just very light. The erratic weather was most trying. A heavy squall at 10 a.m.. which showed no sign of abating, made it necessary to heave-to until 11.30 a.m. At this time the wind backed from east to north, wavering between the two points. This was the 21st, and sights at 3 p.m. made our position latitude 31deg 27min south, longitude 179deg o.min east—level with L'Esperance Rock, the most southern of the Kermadecs. . - . . With a heavy sea running, and slowly but surely being headed off, there seemed nothing else for it but to throw around and at all costs to work over to the east in search of more favourable weather. An east by south .'course was heartbreaking, hut it was certainly better than being so far to leeward. There was great excitement on board when, at 3.15 p.m. on the 23rd, a dark blue mound showed suddenly from the top of a wave—Curtis Island, 20 miles away.. We put around at 7 p.m."for safety, and suddenly a bright red light flashed from the direction of the land. Three minds with but a single thoughts— "shipwrecked mariners"—really an unusual star, now obscured by a cloud. /..J" In a Cyclone. April 23, nine days out, and still on a south-east course. The barometer showed 29.30 in, normal for this locality. Towards the afternoon the wind freshened and veered considerably to the north, and with a heavy sea running the skipper deemed it prudent at 9.30 a.m. on the 24th to heave-to. All effort, to draw the Vision head on to the sea with the sea anchor were fruitless; her Weight and draught aft kept her rolling broadside on to the heavy, broken sea. The barometer reading was now 29.78 in, and other experiences warned us that there was something more than an ordinary storm in fhe vicinity. A consultation with "Lloyd's Calendar" informed us that we were in the centse of a cyclonic disturbance, and to run before till the barometer steadied. Accordingly, with a double-reefed foresail and oil bags trailing alongside, the Vision ran before the wind for two hours. With -the Barometer steady, but very low. she was hove-to for 21 hours—a veritable nightmare. Certainly there was no sea coming on board, hut a continual deluge of blinding, cutting spray, which drenched everything. As we expected, the wind backed from north to west, and gradually well into the south. Still under the reefed foresail, at 8 a.m. on the 25th, the Vision squared away "before the gale, logging six knots. It decreased in strength until by 11 a.m. a little extra canvas seemed necessary. The night was uneventful, for the square-sail did good work and saved a great deal of steering . We carried variable winds over Saturday, 26th, sometimes fresh, and occasionally very light, but at least fair. At 9.15 a.m. on the 27th a faint trail of smoke showed dimly on the horizon to the north. It gradually increased in _ize, till, through the binoculars the masts and upper hull were plainly visible. The vessel altered her course to pass within 75 yards of the Vision. It was the Rama from Niue Island, so we hoisted our red ensign and dipped it in greeting as we pasled.' This was our thirteenth day out, and the bunches, of bananas, etc., ripening on deck, were too templing, more so when the cook threw an orange or two, which fell short. A Sudden Squall. Our luck changed the next day, for we were becalmed for over seven'hours. At 9 p.m. Un the 30th, while close hauled on the port tack, a violent squall struck the Vision from the south. With only three of a crew on deck, tho mainsail and foresail seemed of huge dimensions to haul down. Eventually, with only the staysail nnd jib set. the Vision ran before the wind for an hour, until the wind decreased in strength to a light breeze. Sights at noon, May 1, placed us 24 miles _*u*h of ._VB.:-J___a,nd: . {__~_".,.-yj-.t^.

At 5.30 a.m. on May 2 (western time) the Vision turned her nose in the direction of Tongatabu, and with a fair wind to the entrance of the eastern passage, we successfully manoeuvred through the narrows and numerous shoals, and squared away for the Nukualofa anchorage. The crews of a long line of cutters moored native fashion to a buoy, hailed us as we passed. Our reply ''From Auckland" was received by the natives incredulously. The usual examination by medical and Customs officials being over we were besieged hy crowds of excited Tongans, asking all manner of questions in their own tongue, and we were thankful when the harbourmaster thoughtfully returned with bread and fresh fruit. The great journey was completed; it seemed too good to be true to see the oftdiscussed palms and tropic trees—l 7 days of hard work were amply repaid in the thoughts of future rest, tt was not very long before all hands had turned in, secure in the knowledge that with the "pick" in its proper place we could at last sleep soundly. I think the hero of the trip was the youngest of the family, Madge, who, during the entire journey successfully worked the primus in the gimbals. Whoever came off watch on deck, never wanted for something hot and stimulating. After all that sailing nobody has any desire to leave. Nukualofa inside a month. The strange country and new scenes are too alluring.