A FLOATING HOME

Evening Star, Issue 20898, 15 September 1931, Page 5

A FLOATING HOME

GRACEFUL YACHT REACHES PORT NORTHERN LIGHT ON WORLD TOUR UNUSUALLY INTERESTING COMPLEMENT In bright sunshine, with a sea just sufficient to give the ship tho semblance of a deep sea roll, the Northern Light was sighted off tho Heads in tile vicinity’ of 1.30 p.m, yesterday. The white hull, the well-varnished deck appointments, and tho stately masts with the rigging in seaman-like order, made a very pleasing picture as tho ship, travelling under engine power, approached tho Heads escorted by Mr -I. Hudson’s motor launch Tuatea, which was representing the Otago Yacht Club and had met tho visitor soino four miles out at sea. On the Northern Light entering tho harbour several smaller launches joined the escort, prominent among which was tho lively little sliced boat Argo. A pleasing gesture occurred when tho Argo ran close alongside the Northern Light and Mrs Hugh Speight threw to Madamo Balokovic a, posy of spring flowers and heather which was dexterously caught and smilingly acknowledged by tho recipient. Several blasts of tbc siren announced tbe procession’s arrival off Port Chalmers, where the flag on tho hilltop overlooking the channel was dipped in salutation and acknowledged by the visitor. In the Upper Harbour the pilot launch drew alongside and Mr C. W. Sundstrura, commodore of tho Otago Yacht Club, boarded the Northern Light and officially welcomed tho party ,to Otago Harbour. Tho beautifully graceful and trim yacht which has glided over tho blue waters of tlio Pacific and threshed her way through Arctic ice floes berthed at Dunedin with an unusually interesting complement. On this handsome and snugly-ap-pointed yacht Zlatko Balokovic, the famous Croatian violinist, is travelling on. his toilr of tho world —a cruiso which started at Sail Francisco in April, across the Pacific to Australia, then to New Zealand ports, and is to be continued to Europe. ■ Tho violinist is a man of remarkably engaging ’ personality—a personality that grips because of tho enthusiasm and sincerity of his many interests, confined nob to his art alone. Ho is a young man of thirty-one years who makes his home abroad on tho Northern Light. ’Born in Croatia, whoso country forms part of the now State ol Czocho-Sloyakia, ho received his early schooling with the violin from Professor Hunil and later'studied in Vienna under that celebrated master, Seveik. While under Seveik, from 1911 to 1913, ho won the Austrian State prize, and was a prominent student at the Vienna Academy of Music. Since the Avar lie has played in most of the European capitals. . Balokovic is the perfect host in ms floating homo. Although affluent, ho leads a simple life, combining leisure with his art on his travels. Ho is true to tho Slav typo, with a brilliantly vivacious temperament. To those who wore aboard he Northern Light after her arrival yesterday Balokovic created a profound impression as a conversationalist, a musical enthusiast, and, above all, as a man of the Avorld and a student of his tclloAvs. .Owner and master of this graceful vessel Is Madjimo Balokovic, an unas'sumiug American. As on the estates in tiro United States and on the Riviera, Madame is mistress. Tho daughter of an American railway magnate, a niece of Sir Robert Borden, an ex-Prime Minister of Canadaand the sister of the celebrated novelist, Olivo Borden, Madame Balokm’ic is an unusual woman. Before her marriage to the violinist she Avas prominent m Chicago society. From childhood, Avhen sho spent the summer months on the coast of Maine, she has been enamoured of tho sea and its ships, and she has imparted not a little of her love of yachting to her husband. Tho elaborate display of stylo and wealth that would bo expected from one so happily situated is missing from the character of Madamo BaiokoA'ic. On board she wears a double-breasted coat and a skirt of pilot cloth and a dark blue beret. Skipper of a yacht on which sho is the solo Avoman among eighteen men, Madamo Balokovic retains her femininity. A capable manner, sho is also an efficient manageress, and all provisioning is her additional personal Avork. “In all my lito 1 have never seen a more capable yet unassuming woman,” said a man yesterday on tho Northern Light, on winch ho has spent many happy hours m New Zealand waters. Mudanio’s interests aro her yacht, her husband, and his career. She is graciously reserved, and her life aboard tho yacht is so simple that she docs not have a maid travelling 'with her. Another interesting personality is Baron Kjell FJeetAVOod, avJio Avas travelling in Australia Avhen ho joined Balokovic as his accompanist. The baron is a nobleman of SAveden of long heritage. Tho first Baron Fleetwood Avas an Eng-

lishrnnn, and early in the sixteenth century went to Sweden to ho the hrst general of that country’s army, inc baron has given pianoforte recitals in the leading capitals of Europe, and this is his first visit to tho Antipodes. Ho is a quiet, thoughtful type, yet most approachable. Ho has developed a great lovo for New Zealand, its people, and its cities. Tho sailing muster of the Northern Lmlit is Captain William Paul, who knows tho Otago Harbour thoroughly, as less than eight years ago ho was in command of tho Jamoiia and Wingatui, two well-known Union Company"vessels, which trade regularly to the -port. He also brought tho Union Company’s fuel-oil tanker Otokia from England", and safolv delivered tho tug Southalnd to tho Bluff Harbour Board from her English builders. Last year ho sailed the Shamrock, feu- liiomas Linton’s ill tlx challenger lor tho America Cup, to the United States and back to. Southampton, and some of his yachting crew are still with him on the Northenp Light. As trim and pretty a craft that over sailed into Otago .Harbour, the Northern Light is also one of the stoutest. Commander John Borden, Madame Balokovic’s brother, had the Northern Light built for him at Oakland, near San Francisco, in 1927, and cruised 11,000. miles to Wrangcl. Island m her on' Arctic exploration. Few that voyage she was built especially- stent, and her lull I is 22in thick. Classed as an auxiliary schooner yacht, with a tonnage of 247, the Northern Light is 140 ft in length, with a .waterline oi 106 ft, a beam of 30ft, and a draft of loft. She carries 6,000 square feet of canvas, while the auxiliary power .is provided by two Eairbanks-Mor.se Diesel engines, which drive her at knots. With her graceful lines, tapering masts, shining teak dock Jit tings, dazzling brass littings, and white holly-stoned decks, tbc Northern Light is a delight to tho cyo of all who admire a beautiful ship. And below deck sho is every inch a ship. While luxuriously comfortably appointed, tho quarters' on tho yacht are not ornate. Every little detail to make a Jong voyage pleasant lias been provided for most generously. ■ Opening off tho saloon, which is equipped with .homely chintz-covered settees —tho hand of an attentive woman—arc tho staterooms.. Tho quarters occupied by Balokovic amt inadamo arc charmingly arranged. Their boating homo is in. every way a homo; and a studio for Balokovic, too. No matter how wild the storm tho violinist can practise on his instrument, Tor, in his cabin, is a specially-built seat into which lie straps himself when tho yacht is bucking to tho elements. A'crew of fifteen is required to man the slii|i, and most of the members are Englishmen. A cook, a steward, and a hoy arc in tho steward .department, and the crew is provided with tho same menus as are served in tho saloon. Lite aboard tbo yacht is happy for tho crew. Their quarters are so strangely commodious and pleasant that any- seagoing visitor to tho vessel would stand amazed at the fo’c’lo door. By wireless, tho yacht is in constant communication with far-off ports of tho world, and radio-receiving equipment is installed in every cabin. Since leaving ’Frisco, Iho Northern Light has visited the Marquesas, Tahiti, Tonga, Suva, Sydney, Brisbane, Auckland/ W’oliington, and Lyttelton. Sho left Lyttelton on Sunday morning and proceeded under power to Dunedin. her tiling at the Battvny street wharf about 4 o’clock yesterday afternoon. Early on Sunday morning the Northern Light will clear Otago for Brisbane, where Balokovic is duo to appear on October 4 for |i. further series of recitals. Then Hie yacht will make her leisurely way !o .lain, India, and Eii rope.