YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 181, 1 August 1936, Page 21

YACHTING.

CRUISE OF NGATAKI. AUCKLAND TO TONGA. 1100 MILES SINGLE-HANDED. (By SPEEDWELL.) Johnnie Wra.v's l:itost exploit is to pail his yacht Ngataki 1100 miles from Auckland to Nukualofa, Tonga, with no companion but a cat. It was no mean .feat to gather (lie timber to build the yacht and to do the work of turning logs into a ship-shape, sea-going cruiser almost alone, even if it did take two years of hard work. When the Ngataki was launched lie made three cruises to the South Pacific, and took part in tlie race to Melbourne. He also visited the Kermadccs. Norfolk Island, Tonga, Tahiti and several other places, accompanied by a more or less numerous crew. Only once was lie forced to return. This was when he was caught with too much sail on a run to the Kerniadecs and Norfolk Island, and a squall and a heavy sea capsized the yacht, which righted only just in time. Half submerged, she was pumped and bailed out by her crew of three after 24 hours' hard work, and the port of Maunganui made in safety.

Back in Auckland last February the damage was repaired and the Ngataki made ship-sliape again, and early in May Johnnie Wray left on a visit to his friend, Mr. Charlie Hansen, of Moturckareka Island, near Kawau, where on previous visits he was made welcome to anything In the way of rigging, blocks and spars on the fourmaster ship Kewa, now slowly going to pieces there, which he wanted for use on Ngataki.

Without any fuss, or even telling anyone but his father, Major Wray, of Remuera, that he intended to sail to Tonga alone, the Ngataki left at noon on June 9 with a light north-cast wind, getting clear of Kawau by the north passage at dark.

Outside Kawau there was little wind, and the Ngataki rolled and banged about until Johnnie was seasick. At 10 p.m. the wind came away from the west and freshened, a course being laid for Moko Hinau. He set an alarm clock to go off every hour and slept in between.

June 10.—Moko Hinau was abeam at 9 a.m. Wind, fresh westerly, making six knots with full sail. The New Zealand coast disappeared about 2 p.m. Wind freshening.

June 11.—Noon position 34 degrees 53 minutes south, 17G.0G cast. Wind hard southerly, with big seas and the yacht being tossed about until things got a bit mixed below. Kasinie. the ship's cat, was a cot case and Johnnie not feeling very bright himself. 4 p.m.: Hard squall, and had to lower everything except the staysail. At night the wind increased to gale force, and the Ngataki ran before it under bare poles with a sea anchor and spare rope towing astern. During the night slie shipped a big sea and Johnnie had an awfully bad time until daylight.

June 12.—Latitude 33.59. Too rough to get a longitude sight. Wind now moderated to half a gale and Ngataki made good time running before it under a double-reefed mainsail. The skipper was still feeling seedy with the boat rolling— gunwales under all the time. The cat was now sitting up and taking notice. Sail was reduced to the staysail at night.

June 13. —Wind still fresn south-west, and set rough, but gradually going down. During the day tlie new square sail was tried, but it did not act very well, as she wanted too much attention, and it was taken in before dark and replaced by the staysail, which allowed Johnnie to have a good rest. „ . , . j uae 14.—A fine day. Light northerly wind and Ngataki making good headway under full sail. Sea smooth enough to indulge in a swim, and the cat comes on de june 10.—Wind north-west, cooler and overcast. Yacht sailing well, almost without attention. Sky not looking very promising. the sunset was bad and prospects of heavy weather. June 18.—'Wind hard from the north. Sailing close-hauled, with heavy rain ; visibility poor. Nearing the Kermadecs and somewhere near Haore Rock, but cannot U-k it up. Sight at noon showed Ngataki had passed the rock, and as the wind was now a full gale Ngataki was hove-to. The night" was very dark and dirty with heavy rain, but the ship rode the seas well. Johnnie had a sleep, , in spite of: the ga e It was no good keeping a look-out, as lie nuts it because lie could not see a yard ahead, so he went to sleep and trusted to IU June 17.—Wind went to west-south-west and still blowing a gale. Ran east-nortli-eibt under a double-reefed mainsail, going nearly eight knots, and. pass L'Esperance Rock at 11 a.m. Getting near the Iverm' J d une' 18.—Wind , a bit lighter and Mac°a t on j'une 10 S2 weather line and dear witl. a^tead^ StI S at« «> "nd the Ngataki arrived off Fishing Rocks at G p.m. It wis too late to attempt to go ashore, so N«ataki was headed out to sc<a and lio\e to. During the night she drifted a long way to ouJse W "i d s set 'for ashore for tea, going off to the jaclit at .> p.m. with some oranges. „ Tune 21.—Ashore again .it 7 a.m. iNo trouble to land through the suit in the. ,S V After a long walk round Crater T -life picking oranges got aboard again i* <I'in n m (with more oranges), as> "he weather' looked threatening, and got UI June W 22.— Only light airs and Sunday Island still in sight, but disappeared at 3 n'ni Weather tine but threatening. June 23.—Another fine day. Wind light north-west. Towards dusk wind pe t west and blows up fresh. Keei rifeuc down and at midnight had to lower e\ei>th Jifne 24.—South-west gale. Running ' before it well reefed and going very fast. Seas gradually rising and glass falling. No BiB June P °2s.—Wind south by west, gale ™i7i, «ens verv high. Towing ropes, etc.. over stern to slow her down. Waves now 40ft high Ngataki's mast is 40ft), and careful steering was necessary all the time Several heavy seas came aboard, and ship had to be pumped out occasioni nl June 26. —Storm moderated to half a gale Running under staysaiL At noon set double-reefed mainsail and made great

pace. Seas and wind gradually moderating all niglit and going south-east. June 27.—Latitude 23.43 south, longitude 175.(> west. Still going well. Wind south-south-east, the trades at last. Set full sail and doing six knots. Hoped to sight Tonga next day, but getting time signal from Nukualofa, find _clironometer 3in out, which put Ngataki 50 miles too far to Ihe west. As the wind was now north-east it meant a slog to windward. Squally wind at night and mainsail ripped down from gaff. Tilings not too bright, torn sails and a head wind. | June 2S. —All morning mending the mainsail. but too big a job at sea, and had to t set it reefed from the gaff. At 11 a.m. sighted Ata. SO miles from Tonga. Wind light- and ahead and made little headway with small sails. I June 29. —Weather fine and warm and j light breeze, little headway. Tried to . get engine going, but no good. I June 30.—Still light head winds, and weather hot. getting sunburnt. Making little progress. Julv t.—The cat smells land.. Wind north', light and ahead. Making better progress and wind goes round to northwest.

Julv 2.—Wind nortli-west, light, but Ngataki laying her course and making good progress, and at 11 a.m. sight Eua, only 20 miles from Tonga. Heave-to that night.

July ,'i.—Get under weigh at 3 a.m., and with a fresh south-east trade wind arrive at Nukualofa and drop anchor at 11 a.m. Ship cleared at 2 p.m. and go ashore.

In a letter to Speedwell covering the above extracts from his log, Johnnie Wray says that since his arrival at Nukualofa the weather has been perfect, with light south-east trades blowing every day to keep things cool. It took him about a week to men the sails, but he made a pretty good job of them. He has done some fishing with a deep sea net, but got hauls quite different from what lie was used to. The crabs and devil fish are a pest and play up with the net. Some of the crabs are 2ft across and taste like our crayfish.' When he goes fishing he takes an axe, a big kiiife, his gun and a spear, for the octopus, crabs and poisonous fish. One devil fish in the net had tentacles 20ft long when stretched full out. He had to be shot.

Mr. Wray concludes by saying that he intends to visit Vavau, north of Nukualofa, and go back to Tonga, where he may stay for some months, but his future movements are uncertain so far. He mentions that he flew the Tamaki Yacht Club's burgee, presented by the commodore, the day before he left Auckland. It bag flown at the Ngataki's masthead all the way to Tonga and is still there.