AN ADVENTUROUS CRUISE.

Manawatu Standard, Volume XLVI, Issue 25, 29 December 1925, Page 10

AN ADVENTUROUS CRUISE.

CRUISE OF THE RUAMANO

TO CIRCUMNAVIGATE NEW

ZEALAND

A little group of adventurous spirits abandoned all thought of rest after tlicir Christmas meal and took upon themselves the no mean task of loading up a stout launch for a cruise that aims at the circumnavigation of New Zealand (says an Auckland paper). The party are: Messrs A. H. Court (owner), J. Kelly (engineer), C. J. Codings (builder), J. B. Johnston and R. Noton, and tlio craft is the twinscrew 43-footer Kuamano. With a cruise of over two months in i>rospect, the- equipping and provisioning of the vessel was no light matter. Caso after case of benzine went into the .cockpit, yet this was but a small portion of what will be needed on the trip, for the Ruainano with her 150 horse-power, has an appetite for fuel that demands a case for every 12 knots. Tinned and fresh provisions, a crate of live poultry, shooting and fishing gear, and a serviceable sea anchor also went aboard. Details concerning navigation had received careful thought. A complete set of charts of tlie New Zealand coast was under the navigator’s charge, while a powerful searchlight was fitted us an aid to night navigation in confined waters.

The greatest problem to bo faced in connection with a voyage that is unique in the story of the Dominion is that of petrol supply. Though the launch could carry, at a pinch, about 70 cases in her tanks and cockpit, it will not be necessary to take this amount aboard for fuelling depots have been arranged for round the coast, and even at Milford Sound 50 cases have already been deposited. A couple of hours of hard toil on Christmas Day. saw everything stowed aboard, and then quite undemonstratively the ltuamano backed out from Ponsonby, called in at St. Mary’s Bay to pick up a very fine dinghy, and headed. briskly for North head and the Gulf. A few yachtsmen and other followers of acquatics, recognising the craft and knowing her itinerary, raised a cheer as she passetl on Jjer way to the first port of call, Russell. This week the ltuamano pushes her bow into the Tasman, en routo for Wellington, _via Onehunga and Now Plymouth. From the capital city tho stout little craft will take tho oast coast of the South Island to Dunedin, and Auckland will havo another “Court” at tho exhibition. Visits to Stewart Island and to all of the West Coast Sounds will follow ere the Ruumano comes up to Greymoutli, Westport and Nelson, and then via Napier and Gisborne, home-