"MODERN VIKINGS."

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 60, 12 March 1926, Page 5

"MODERN VIKINGS."

RUAMANOS LONG CRUISE.

WELCOME HOME BY YACHTSMEN.

A "welcome home social was tendered last evening by the Ponsonby Cruising Club to Mr. A. H. Court and crew of the launch Ruamano, which recently returned from a two months' cruise, during which the circumnavigation of the three islands of New Zealand was accomplished, representing a total of 3000 miles.

Mr. W. Goodwin presided over a large gathering of yachting men, nearly all local club 3 being, represented. . The guests of the evening were Mr. A. H. Court, owner, and Messrs. J. B. Johnston, C. J. Collings, R. Noton and J., Kelly, ■ who formed the crew of the Ruamano on her long trip, also Mr. B. W. Beaumont, who joined the ship for part of the journey. There was a large attendance of yachting men, nearly all the local clubs being represented.

Mr. Alec Burt, in proposing the toast of the Ruamano's crew, said they were all proud of her achievement. Ponsonby yachtsmen were especially interested in the little ship as the crew were all residents of their district, while the boat had been designed and built in Ponsonby. They accomplished a great feat, and had been referred to in the south as "Modern Vikings." Everywhere they went yachtsmen had given them a great reception, and their own club was glad to welcome them back to Ponsonby. Mr. Court, in' responding, said that in the course of their cruise they had many gatherings, but they were very pleased to be welcomed by the. Ponsonby Club, whoso flag they" had carried throughout the cruise. Mr. Court recalled several incidents of the journey round the coast, making special reference to the grandeur of the Marlborough and Milford Sounds.

Messrs. J. B. Johnston. C. J. Colling?, 1 T!. Xoton, J. Kelly and B. \Y. Beaumont also responded to the toast, and all • agreed they had a wonderful trip, but 1 were thankful to bp home again. They had a «rood skipper and the boat had ' kept to her timetable in the face of many , adverse conditions. Auckland yaehte- ! men would be charmed with the wonderful strrielir-? of land-locked bays to be ' found in the Southern Sound?, some of ' whk-h had ovpr 1000 miles of coastline. 1 All agreed that the hospitality met on the trip was unbounding. At P+owar* Island a public holiday was proclaimed ■ and the residents, some 4-rO in nil. turned ' . out to see their little ship. ' Mr. ? Johnston, in the course of his remarks. " i attributed a big share, of the interest taken in Ruamano and her cruise to the ' good feeling engendered by the Sanders '•('up contests and mentioned that a party of Dunedin yachtsmen had.waited for several hours outside Otago Heads in , half a gale of wind and rain to pilot them l up Dunedin harbour, and put them on ! a safe mooring. I Mr. Court was presented with two , photographic enlargements by llic officers and members of the Ponsonby C'luo. One represented the ship at Milford Sound, and the other the skipper and crew. ? I Other toasts honoured were "'Kindred I 1 Clubs," proposed by Mr. H. R. Arthur . I and responded to by Mr. A. E. Gifford, , Commander of the Royal N.Z. Yacht 1 Squadron. "Local Bodies.'" proposed by ■ Mr. Geo. Barber and responded to by 5 his Worship, the Mayor, Mr. deo. Baii- [ don and Mr. J. B. Johnston. A toast to . the musicians and the Press concluded . the list. ' • '•,':- ■:!«! i ' During the evening 'excellent items I were contributed by \lessrs. W. Purcell, i! Calvert. Wallace, Hintz, Turner, Lonert g»n, Bickerton, Evans, Delanev and ; Bailey. I '