YACHT'S LONG CRUISE.

Auckland Star, Volume LX, Issue 37, 13 February 1929, Page 10

YACHT'S LONG CRUISE.

AMERICA TO NEW ZEALAND.

WELL-APPOINTED VESSEL FORMERLY OWNED BY SCREEN STAR. (By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.) GISBORNE, this day. The American yacht Wanderlust, with Mr. Harvey Yissell, of La f.'rescanta. California, and his family on board, will leave for the north at the end of the present week, and Aueklanders will sec a stately schooner yacht which will recall memories of the Lorna which visited New Zealand some years ago.

The party 011 the yacht arc Mr. and Mrs. VisM-11, two daughters, and a niece.

In addition there is a sailing master

mid a Tahitian crew

'"Tliis yacht has <|iiite a history," said

the owner, "and it once belonged to Thomas luce, the noted silver sheet director and producer, and I purchased her from Conine Griffiths, the famous lilm actress. My present tour has lasted IS months, and we have cruised from IS,OOO to 20 ; 000 miles. We left Los Angeles on August 3, 1927, and cruised till Christmas, 1927. At Tahiti we left the yacht and returned to Los Angele* on business intent. Picking up the Wanderlust again at Tahiti we cruised the South Seas, visiting the Paumotu Isles, then down to the Gambiers and on to Hapa Iti (a lone spot ni the Pacific). The Austral Use came next in turn and then the Leeward Isles. We returned to Tahiti for supplies, water and overhauling, and then sailed direct for Xew Zealand. My intention was> to make a brief stay at the island of Rutu, which is one-third of the way from Tahiti. However. I changed my mind and we steered direct, making port at Gisborne for water, laundry and supplies. We intend to cruise about the shores of this Dominion for about a month and a-half, and then go on to Fiji and Samoa.

A striking feature of the saloon is the amount of space available for the storage of goods, even the companionway steps being fitted with tiny drawers. An electrically driven player piano, a table fitted with a swivel and

weighted with a hall of load to ensure safety of table appointments, a client with special compartments for the safety of glassware, and great storage space behind the davenports are among the noticeable features of the saloon. Three well-appointed cabins, a bathroom, crew's quarters and kitchen were viewed, and in the cook's galley, which is presided over by a specially* selected Chinese cook, there is an electric stove, and an ice chest, as well as the usual necessities tor culinary use. The crew comprise Tahitians, of whom the owner speaks with great praise.