A CRUISE IN THE SOUNDS.

Dominion, Volume 2, Issue 407, 16 January 1909, Page 12

A CRUISE IN THE SOUNDS.

THE LOG OF THE PATRONUS.

A cruise' in the Sounds in the summer outing: of outings as far as theyachtsman is; concerned, and the following extract from tho' log-,- of tho Pat-ronus, which returned from Picton last week,. gives tho yachtsman who has liotmado the. trip ill idea of the journeyings, joys, and hardships ill tho, (Sounds. The Patronus, which was. manned by Messrs;-C, Jonkins, O.i Smith, 'M'Carrison, Holmes, Lindsay, I and Kriapp, loft Seatqun at 4.40 a.m. on, | December 26, and, after; making a good passago across tho straits in a heavy southerly roll, entered Tory Channel at ,9.50. Tho first day :and night, wero spent -at To Awaite.; At 6 a.m. tho first of the bitter sweets that go to make up such a crliisS was struck.' It • was found that the anchor Was' foul' in .a' huge patoli of seaweed, arid it was not uhtil the brew had laboured for three-hours that the pick was got on board. The nest move was towards Ship Cove, hut' the wind was only; blowing in gusts, and, as the. tide turned,, tho yacht Commenced to/make, a stem board. Mr. Baxter,, jnn's., was nindo.. through af small eastern; and; Ship',CoVe being: out of . thfe; qubst>dri ; it'was/decided: to make" Picton. After grounding on a muddy bottom l and getting , off tvithout, 4bing; any,:damagoj; another . start was made, out of the west sage,' and the trip:': tb Picteii' was' broken ;l)y: a half .hour's 'efcSi'ciSe'in &';ch'erry'orchard,, owned by Mh; Baxter, sen. : Bright and early On tho. morning of December. 28, a start was .made for Douolo' Say,:,.which . Was made at, 6.30 p.m. ;Tho : evening was spent-ashore, and the crew began to say "they had never' bujoyecl. thbmselves so much before." A prise was in store for 'tho Sailors nest morning. : The first man up noticed a consider-', ■ able list 'to stftrboatd, arid on investigating it was found.that the boat had drifted ashore 'during 'the night. There was nothing for it but to wiit for tho a fishing oxbursioii Was .organised, - and a good liaiil of cod was landed. At 10, a.m. the. yacht, was refloated without difficulty,. Jackson's launch arrived-during the day, arid a rousing .night: ,ras spent round:the catnp fire\bjr the'combined crews. Ship Cove was the destination' when tho morning of December.Bo broke, and the afternoon and night were spent there together with Jackson's launch.' Tho!Cove was rotetV the prito.beauty; spot of tho Sounds, and pleasant memories linger of the cherry and apple pies cooked by some of the ladies fill tho launch, which effort was immeasurably Superior .to the alleged damper , provided by somo of the amatuer male chefs.who operated during tho cruise.. Somo heavy weather 'was' encountered on the run' tb.' P.brt Gore : oh January l,.nnd- a' terrific.soa was running , in. the bay on tho return trip. During tho night all hands wore turned out,, as tho boat, was dragging ashore. Three hours' work ,in : a, howling gale and : heavy, rain was necessary before tho yacht was warped ..out with two anchors, and left in safety. Oil January' 2 it was decided to run up to Picton . preparatory to leaving for ■Wellington .again.,.. ' January 8 was' a lazy day, and was spent in eating, smoking,' arid sleeping, and at 10 a.m. on January 4 a start was mado dofrn the Sounds at a leisurely pace. The yacht passed out of Tory Channel at 10.30 a.m. on.January 5 in fino weather. The wind increased gradually, until by midday half a gale was blow- : inn:.' A . big sea was running, but it was decided to-reef. Island Bay was passed at 2.45 p.m.. arid, after clearing Pencarrow at 3.15. the little yabht got her worst, gruelling in:the:short seas. ■ The; anchorage' in Evans Bay was made at 6 p.m. A tired, wet, but thoroughlv happy crew made the yaoht Snug, and, : bundling into the dinghy, made for-the shore 1 and their respective homes.