WORLD CRUISE

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXIII, Issue 22413, 8 May 1936, Page 15

WORLD CRUISE

VOYAGE OF IDLE HOUR SYDNEY'S HOSPITALITY preparing for departure YOUNG ENGLISHMAN JOINS CREW BY IVAN PALMER In the tollowins article an Auckland ramv nf the crew of the American ketch Idle flmir describes preparations for the craft's departure.from Sydney in continuation of a world cruise. SYDNEY, May 2 a complete refit, the 32ft. American ketch Idle Hour, in which Plight Long, young Seattle Univer6itv student, arrived at Sydney from Auckland a little over six weeks ago in the course of a world cruise, will leave for New Guinea shortly. From there our route will be through the Dutch East Indies to Singapore and on to/ England, via Suez. A new recruit to the crew when we leave will ! be a young Englishman, William Potts, v ho made a passage from England to Australia: some months ago as a member of the crew of the wheat sailing t ship Parma. He is going with us as j f ar as Port Moresby, Papua. There is also a possibility that an Australian youth may join the crew. That would ! ra ; se the complement to five. Since our arrival in Australia Dwight Long has been deluged with applications from people anxious to join his crew. There have been many applications by members of the fair sex. One girl stated she was a trained nurse, and could attend to any ailments ve might develop. She asked us not to divulge her name, as she held an important place in Sydney society. Another girl wrote: "1 can cook, wash dishes, scrub and keep silent." Visitor's Long Journey

Among the visitors to Idle Hour has teen an old man who made a train journey of 50 miles to see the craft. He bad previously been aboard Joshua Slocum's Spray, J. C. Yoss' Tilikum and Lieutenant G. H. P. Muhlhauser s Amaryllis, all of which visited Australia" in the course of world cruises. Slocum's famous single-handed voyage W as made nearly 40 years ago ' During our stay in Sydney, Idle Hour has been completely refitted, lhe crart has been slipped and repaired and portion of the false keel and sternpost replaced. We have been fortunate in obtaining a fine new suit of five sails. The present suit will be retained as a standbv The new mainsail is Marconi shaped", a stvle which is finding increasing favour "for ocean cruising as it .greatly ■reduces slat and chafe. Gilt of New Sails

In addition to the mainsail, agaffBeaded mizzen sail, staysail and Jib, the rig now includes a mizzen staysail to be rigged forward of the mizzen mast when working to windward. We also carry two identical spinnakers which we use together when running before the wind for prolonged periods. The new sails were cut from the of the 65ft. yacht Morna, the fastest of Sydney's racing fleet, ihe yacht's rig was recently changed from gall to Marconi, the new 86ft. hollow mast, rigging and suit of sails costing £2OOO. The owner, Mr. Prank Packer well-known newspaper proprietor and Tachtsman, very generously gave Long the Morna's former main6ail, a fine piece of canvas 1400 square feet in area. Sir Samuel Walder, a leading tetttmaker, placed his premises at our disposal for the making of the Chronometer Purchased

The motor lias been completely overhauled and is now in splendid condition. Its fefficiencv has been more than doubled. New piston rings have been fitted, two useless valves put right, and the oil pump and clutch repaired. Our navigation instruments also ha\e been vastly improved. A chronometer has heen purchased to replace the pocket watch which was formerly used for navigational purposes. Ihe sextant has been checked and the compass is to be readjusted before we leave. Good charts as 'far as Singapore have been obtained. . , Since our arrival in Sydney, Dwight Long, Timi, the Tahitian boy, and have all enjoyed wonderful hospitality. We have found Sydney people very friendly. We were the guests of the American film actor Charles r arrell during his recent visit to make his nrst Australian x iiilm, "The Flying Doctor. Farrell is kkenly interested in our venture, as he '' formerly owned a small Bailing boat himself. Many others have also extended hospitality and we have been takei) for many fine drives to places of interest near Sydney. Tahitian Boy's Adventures

Timi, the Tahitian cook and cabin boy, had his 16th birthday on Anzac Day, April 25. He has had many new experiences in Sydney. He has been up in an aeroplane, in an underground railway and racing along at 3o miles an hour in a speedboat. He still maintains, however, that he likes Auckland best. He Avas greatly interested to see the famous Sydney 18-footers under full sail. These amazing craft carry a howsprit as long as the boat itself and a 2&ft. boon/, not including the ringtail. Through the courtesy of Paramount Pictures we were shown a special screening of the,notable island film "Tabu, made several years ago on Borabora, Timi's island home. A number of limi s friends and relatives were included in the all-native cast. Many courtesies have been extended to Dwight Long by Sydney authorities, notably the Royal Australian Navy, the Koyal Australian Naval Reserve, and the harbourmaster. The Customs authorities also have been very helpful. When we leave we will carry about 100 gallons of petrol, 200 gallons of water and provisions for nine months. A gift of biscuits from Mr. Percy Arnott was greatly appreciated. Over £BO Spent

In spite of very generous help received on all sides, refitting and provisioning had cost over £BO. The chief expenditure was on food, £4O, petrol, engine pai-ts and paint. However, the expense was more than met by money earned by Dwight Long, with newspaper articles, a series of eight radio talks, lectures and personal appearances at theatres in conjunction with a news--reel, and placing the boat open for inspection, over 500 people coming aboard. A new mascot, a cattle dog-Spaniel. Was presented to Idle Hour bv the Apex - Club, a young businessmen's organisation here./ Hugo 11., as we have called him, had 'not been on board a week when he decided to "desert" —jumped ashore when the craft was berthed at the pier at Manly. However, he was not lost for long, as a presentation collar soon established his identity. The original dog Hugo was on board when Idle Hour left Seattle was washed overboard in a storm between Pago Pago and Auckland. When we leave Sydney we will follow the ' Australian coast through the Great Barrier Reef region as far as "aim Passage, near Townsville. through which we will head out for New Guinea. expect to reach Singapore by November. •