WONDER YACHT

Hokitika Guardian, 19 January 1932, Page 3

WONDER YACHT

TO VISIT NEW ZEALAND. LADY YULE’S TOUR. SYDNEY, January 7. ; A 1600-ton luxury yacht, belonging to Lady Yule, which created gi'inß interest in Melbourne during the weekend when it arrived unexpectedly iji the course of a world tour, will shortly be seen in New Zealand ports, for’ its owner i.s very anxious to experience the thrills of deep-sea fishing outside Russell. The Nahlin,'for- such is.the name of this wonder vessel, is a gleaming picture of white and gold and cost a fortune to build. This is not surprising, seeing that Lady Yule, who is the widow of Sir David Yule, a wealthy Calcutta jute merchant, is reputed to be worth anything ’up to £30,000,000. She is touring tl/e world with her daughter, . and she camb to Australia by way oi the East, calling at ‘ Java and Perth bn her way to Melbourne.

Lady Yule and her "daughter are 'the only passengers, but there is a crew of 60, and it is estimated that * the running costs of the vessel are not'* 44s$ than £IOOO a week. There are • 20 stewards—lo to „ each passenger—-and all members of the crew, with the exception of the French chefy are British. Twenty guests’ cabins - are served by 10 bathrooms, and each deck has luxurious saloons, furnished with brocade and tapestry upholstered lounges. Th. ■interior of the yacht is pannelled in light oak and there are -elaborate mess rooms tor tne officers and the men. There is • a wdll*Stocked library, and beautiful bluums grow in pots and tubs throughout the ship. • - The .Nahlin has a speed ’ of-17.) knots and 'carries a speed launch -which wilj do 40 miles an hour-comfortably. The ship ha s a gyro compass,- or ’•ironnuinl” which enables it to steer itself to .a set course. It was at first commissioned in July, 1930, and has remained in commission ever since. Hei -first voyage was' to the '-Westand then to the UaliforniA'fv coast, so she will not be a stranger’-to the Pacific when she crosses from Australia to New Zealand very soon. ’ The. vessel is now in Tasmanian' waters ' antD- may come to Sydney before -venturing(•across the Tasman. At sea Lady 'Yule, and her daughter wear yachting ..costumes, black trousers, trim jackets, and beretlike hats..

Lady Yule, besides..being'a devotee of the sea, i.s a bird and, anjmal fancier. There are dozen,s-ut- brightly coloured and gilded cagesrthaftgiiisu .-•round the upper and lower .decks and the squawking of the' .parrots’ And the chirping of the canaries make a strange but not unpleasant symphony; echoing down the vessel's - corridors. "Dogs, cats, and mbnktys are-’ among the. othci pets on- boflrd: IAM-er visiting -New Zealand .Lady Yule will- go to the Pacific Islands before returning to Englawdj Commander A. T.- Rennie- has beeff .hi charge 'ever -since -the vessel was- gWI missioned. *=- '■ - ■ REACHES' NEW ZEALAND. :K j fßy Telegraph—Per I‘resr A ssociaiion) •AiJCKI/A'ND, January 17. . The steam yacht Nahlin, in which Lady Yule and her daughter, Miss Gladys Yule, have come .to New Zealand for fishing and sight-seeing, arrived at Russell from Hobart- yesterday. The Nahlin is under the command of Captain Rainey, R.N.K.. who lias a crew of 51. She is 312 feet long, draws 14ft. Bin., and has a cruising speed of 17 knots.' Her -cabins and general appointments are most luxurious. The yacht encountered a cyclone on the trip from Hobart. Lady Yule intends to start big gamo; fishing to-morrow, using Mr Zano Grey’s launch. After Lady Yule and her daughter have fished at the Bay of Islands, they will come to Auckland in the yacht, and go to Taupo for some trout fishing in the Tonganro River. They they will go down theWanganui to rejoin the Nahlin at Wellington. In the South (island they will visit Mount Cook and then walk over the Te Anan-Milford track. The yacht? will he waiting for them in Milford; Sound, and in her they will visit Dusky Sound and Doubtful Sound, and then return to Wellington, where the yacht will refuel before leaving on her homeward trip via Panama.

According to the ( present prngramme. the Nahlin should reach Auckland by the middle of February. Lady Yule is the widow of..Pir David Yule, a merchant, of Indian who was described as probably Hie wealthiest man in the British Empire.