CRUISING IN PACIFIC.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 230, 29 September 1931, Page 8

CRUISING IN PACIFIC.

CRAFT SMALL AND LARGE

MR. VANDEBBILT'S YACHT.

ANOTHER SHACKLETON,

(From Our Own Correspondent.)

APIA, September 18,

Apia is becoming a regular port of call for pleasure craft of all kinds and dimensions. A few months ago a French naval officer with six months' leave ahead of Tn'm called in here, in a small 14ft auxiliary yacht, bound from Tahiti to the Line Islands, and generally wandering in the Pacific. The next visitor was the Nomad, from San Francisco, an American-owned 20-ton cutter, bent on general cruising in the Pacific. Last week these craft were completely eclipsed by the appearance of Mr. W. .K. Vanderbilt's motor yacht Alva, which arrived in port from Bora.

The Alva is everything that a pleasure ' yacht should be. Of 1114 tons net register, cruiser built, she! is fitted most luxuriously, and the colour schemes of : cabins and saloons are a delight to the eye. As becomes a private yacht, all fittings and finishings are bright and spotless, the whole ship presenting a picture of pleasing efficiency. The yacht is manned by a crew of 49, of mixed nationality, and is on a world cruise. She ifi commanded by her owner, ill-. Vanderbilt, but anyone considering emulating his taste in the matter of pleasure. craft would need, to take into his calculations the 100,000 dollars a year necessary for maintaining such a ship. Of course, there are other trifles of expenditure to be reckoned with, too. Apparently possessing some of his famous uncle's adventurous spirit, Mr. J. Shackleton, a nephew of the late Sir Ernest Shackleton, accompanied by two companions, is making a voyage round the world in a 36-ton ketch. The three voung men are sailing from place to nlace as fancy takes them. Already they have been in Samoa for over a week, perhaps they have come under the spell, . ling caused many a world-wanderer to settle in these "islands of the blest."