CRUISE IN THE ISLANDS

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12455, 25 May 1926, Page 2

CRUISE IN THE ISLANDS

YACHT VISION RETURNS BAD WEATHER EXPERIENCED CYCLONE ENCOUNTERED (By Telegraph .—Special to “Times.”) AUCKLAND, May 24. Tied up at Man-o-war Steps, near Queen's Wharf, the 18-ton yacht Vision, which returned to Auckland yesterday morning after an absence of twenty-five months among the islands of the South Seas, was to-day the subject of considerable interest. The Vision, which is owned by My James Reid, left Auckland for Tonga on April loth, 192*4, and besides Mr Reid there were on board his wife, one son and two daughters. Tho voyage to Tonga was . made in the face of strong head winds, the yacht occupying seventeen days during the trip. A cyclone was encountered, and for twenty-one honrs the Vision was hove-to with only a little canvas set. At Nukualofa the Vision anchored for some days. Later she cruised about the Tongan Group, being warmly welcomed by the inhabitants, both European and natives, in the outlying islands. From Tonga the Vision went on to Pago Pago, and after a stay of a fortnight, was taken to Apia in tow of the steamer Lady Roberts, which was recently damaged in a severe hurricane which swept th© islands of the Samoan Group. A stop of four months was made at Apia, and the yacht then sailed for Levuka. During the voyage very stormy 'weather was encountered, and for two nights in succession the yacht was hove-to. Then followed a cruise of the Lau Group. The Vision was headed for Suva on her return trip, and after a prolonged stay at Suva the vessel sailed for Auckland on May Ist. Once again she experienced boisterous conditions, the foresail being blown away. After this buffeting the Vision put. in to Whangammmi on May 15th, and there repaired the damage before coming on to Auckland. Speaking of the voyage Mr Roid said that he would have been’ ab-' sent from Auckland for a considerably longer period, but for the fact that his wife was in favour of returning hdhie. Tlio Reids’ fourteen-year-old daughter, Madge, who, throughout the cruise, assisted in the navigation of the yacht, proved herself a capable yachtswoman, frequently being at the wheel at night when the Vision was being tossed about in wild weather. <