A PALATIAL YACHT

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21542, 14 January 1932, Page 7

A PALATIAL YACHT

VISIT TO NEW ZEALAND HOBART,, January 12. Lady Yule’s palatial yacht sailed for New Zealand to-day. LADY YULE’S TOUR. (From Our Own Correspondent.) SYDNEY, January 7. A 1 (500-ton luxury yacht, belonging to Lady Yule, which created great interest in Melbourne during the week-end when it arrived unexpectedly in the course of a world tour, will shortly be seen in New Zealand ports, for its owner is very anxious to experience the thrills of defepsea 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 the late Sir David Yule, a wealthy Calcutta jute merchant, is reputed to be worth anything up to £30,000,000. She is touring the wprld with her daughter, and she came to Australia by way of the East, calling at Java and Perth on her way to Melbourne.

Lady Yule and her daughter are the only passengers, but there is a crew of 50, and it is estimated that the running costs of the vessel are not less than £IOOO a week. There are 20 stewards—--10 to each passenger—and all members of the crew, with the exception of the French chef, are British. Twenty guests’ cabins are served by 10 bathrooms, and each deck has luxurious saloons, furnished with brocade and tapestry uphol stered lounges. The interior of the yacht is panelled in light oak, and there are elaborate mess rooms for the officers and the men. There is a wellstocked library, and beautiful blooms grow in pots and tubs throughout the ship. The Nahlin has a speed of knots, and carries a speed launch which will do 40 miles an hour comfortably. The ship has a gyro compass, or “ ironman,” which enables her to steer herself to a set course. She was first commissioned in July, 1030, and has remained in commission ever since. Her first voyage was to the West Indies and then to the Californian 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, and may come to Sydney before venturing across the Tasman. At sea Lady Yule and her daughter wear yachting costumes, black trousers, trim jackets, and beret-like hats. Lady Yule, besides being a devotee of the sea, is a bird and animal fancier. There are dozens of brightly-coloured and gilded cages hanging 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 monkeys are among the other pets on board. After visiting New, Zealand Lady Yule will go to the Pacific Islands before returning to England. Commander A. T. Rennie has been in charge ever since the vessel was commissioned.