The Cruise of the Alabama.

Evening Post, Volume XXXVII, Issue 84, 9 April 1889, Page 2

The Cruise of the Alabama.

The yacht Alabama, better known as the Sappho, returned to Wellington last night, aftor a lengthened cruise in the Sounds. She left here on the 6th February, in chargo of her owner, Mr. T. R. H. Taylor, with a party of men who had been engaged to cut grass seed on D'Urville Island, and has consequently been absent nine weeks. On the trip across to the island bad weather was experienced, but tho vessel, which is only an eight or nine tonner, behaved splendidly, and arrived at her destination in duo course. One night before reaohing the island the rain poured in torrents, and there was a lot of thunder and lightning, and in anticipation of a heavy gale four reefs were put into the mainsail. The wind did not, however, spring up, and the yaoht lay becalmed for some time. She was ably handled on the trip aoross to the island, and Mr. Taylor has shown us a letter which he has recoiyed from a number of his passengers thanking him for oarrying them across free of cost, and testifying to the skilful manner in whioh he piloted the little craft while they were on hoard. After the mon had beon landed, the Alabama went to Nelson, touching at some places en route. Sho remained in Nelson for nearly a fortnight, in consequenoe of Mr. Taylor requiring treatment for a poisoned hand, a fishbone having stuck it, and on the 7th of laßt March a start was made for Wellington, Mr. Taylor's intention being to come along leisurely. On the way over several landings were effected, and what with fishing, shooting, and searching for oyster beds a very pleasant time was spent. The Alabama left Pioton last Saturday afternoon, and reached Tewhaite the following morning, Mr. Taylor having sailed the boat down the channol the greater part of the night. Sho oleared the channel at 2 o'olook yesterday afternoon, and was off Sinclair Head three honrs later, a very fast passage having been made. A strong N.E. wind with heavy sea was encountered up to 6.30 o'clook, at which hour the lighthouse was reached. Aftor that, and until rounding Point Halswell, the wind was a dead muzzier, and she was of course obliged to beat up from Pencarrow, arriving off the Te Aro Baths, where she anohored at 10 p.m. Since tho Alabama has been away from Wellington she has covered about a thousand miles, and Mr. Taylor assures us that he has found her thoroughly staunch and a capital seaboat. He has certainly had ample opportunities of testing her capabilities during the past nine weeks, and the fact that Bho has returned looking none tho worse for her many buffetings is ample proof _ that the extensive repairs effected by him just before she went away have made her as good a boat as ever she was. During the greater part of the cruise she was sailed by her owner with the assistance of one man only.