A YACHTING CRUISE.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LIX, Issue 18196, 15 September 1922, Page 5

A YACHTING CRUISE.

VOYAGES ABOUT THE PACIFIC INVADER AT SUVA. [from oi;r own corrf^pondent.] SUVA. Sept. 6. Another party is voyaging about the Pacific in a small craft. It comprises Mr. J. Percival Jefferson, of Santa Barbara, in California, with his- wife and three friends. Some four years ago Mr. Jefferson decided to tour the Pacific, and his j vacht went south from New York to meet i him on the West Coast, but unfortunately j the craft was wrecked and tho project | vms abandoned. Mr. Jefferson then bought the fine yacht j Invader, of 155 tons, fitted with a gas j engine of 125 h.p. and schooner-rigged. | She entered Suva Harbour last evening i just before dark, and attracted a great | deal of notice by .her beautiful lines and i generally handsome appearance. She has i a crew of 16 all told, and is under tho j command of Captain S. H. Burtis. The Invader left San Pedro, and ran ! down the coast of Mexico. A number of ! trips_ were made into the interior of Mexico, and finally Panama was reached, where three friends of Mr. and Mrs. Jefferson joined the party. A course was then set for Cocos. "It is a great place for treasure-hunting," Mr. Jefferson said, "but we did not find any." ( Many islands were visited in turn, including P'aumotas, Marquessas and Tahiti. While a course was being followed for the Cook group, a heavy north-west gale came along, so a course was set for Pago Pago. After a stay there Apia, Vavau, and Nukualofa were visited, and then the gallant little craft was headed for Suva. Mr. Jefferson hopes to visit Australia, New Zealand, Solomons, New Hebrides, and New Caledonia before starting on the home tack. The Invader is a splendid sea' boat, and fast on the wind. She has no less than 90 tons of lead in her keel.