WORLD CRUISES

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23670, 30 November 1938, Page 8

WORLD CRUISES

FOUR SMALL YACHTS ITINERARIES OF OWNERS (Special to Daily Times) AUCKLAND, Npv. J». No fewer than four small craft coming from distant parts of the world are at present in port. Owned by an American, South African, and Englishman and a Pole, they vary in size from a 73ft all-steel vessel to a tiny converted centre-board boat of 21ft. Two of the yachts will leave New Zealand next month and are busily preparing for sea.

The 73ft ketch-rigged auxiliary yacht Vanora, owned by Mrs Marion Rice Hart, an American, will leave for Ancud, Chile, before December 10 on a course that will involve nearly 6000 miles’ sailing without calling at any port. The Vanora will not follow the great circle course, as this would lake her too far south into the iceberg region. From Ancud it is planned to sail south through the Straits of Magellan and up the east coasts of South and North America to New York. Large supplies of provisions are beng taken aboard, and. sufficient water for between three and four months, although it is not expected that the run to Chue will take as long as that. The supplies in the water tanks are being supplemented by a number of demijohns of water.

•To replace two New Zealanders who helped to bring the Vanora from Nbumea to Auckland, additions are being made to the crew before the vessel sails. Mr D. K. Matheson has joined the yacht as sailing master. He was recently captain of the ketch Miena, trading on the coast, and before that he was an officer in the Nobel auxiliary schooner Huia. It is probable that at least one other from among a number of applicants will accompany the vessel when she sails. Mrs Hart is at present on a visit to Rotorua. Members of the crew expressed their gratitude for the hospitality extended to, them by yachtsmen and others during their stay at Auckland. . i The 57ft ketch-rigged yacht, Landsl End, owned by Captain H. Jeffery, is\ also preparing to leave. Alterations to the vessel are almost complete, and Captain Jeffery hopes to sail on the first stage of his return journey to South .Africa on December 15. He will travel to the Bay of Islands and thence to Tonga, and after call® at other Pacific Islands will proceed via New Guinea, the Dutch East Indies, the islands in the Indian Ocean, and the east coast of Africa to Durban. The trip will take about 12 months. Captain Jeffery will be accompanied by his wife, whom he married at Auckland in August. Passengers as far as the Bay of Islands will be Captain Jeffery’s mother, Mrs' H. Jeffery, sen., who has just arrived from South Africa, and his wife’s sister, Miss Z. James. Of the other overseas yachts in port, the 21ft ketch-rigged yacht, Farys, which a young Pole, Mr E. J. Weber, brought from Tahiti at the end of 1936, is on the slip. Her future movements are indefinite. The fourth yacht, the 70ft auxiliary ketch Honda, owned by Captain Hudson, 0.8. E., is still lying anchored. After a stay in Auckland, Captain Hudson plans _to make a cruise round the North Island.