CRUISING PACIFIC.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20331, 14 June 1934, Page 4

CRUISING PACIFIC.

Danish and Italian Yacht Parties.

BATTLE WITH CYCLONE. (Special to the “ Star.”) SUVA, June 6. Captain F. A. Geraci, with his friend Signor Rosario Dominici, looked fit and well when they were interviewed on their tiny seven-ton yacht, the “M.A.S.'* (Memento Audere Semper), when she passed the doctor in Suva harbour. They reported having had very heavy weather between Pago Pago and Suva, but the little craft behaved splendidly. The “M.A.S.” started from Ilalv in August, 1932, and after fighting a cyclone in the Atlantic, which kept Captain Beraci at the wheel for over 4S hours, the yacht reached the Caribbean and Trinidad. There the captain's companion fell ill, and was placed ashore at a port in Colombia. The captain v\ent back to Italy for a rest. Returning with Signor Dominici he set sail again, and after passing through the Canal, started a long cruise of tno Pacific Islands. They visited the Galapagos and had the rare experience of calling at Charles Island, whose inhabitants number six. They were well entertained there by Dr. Ritter. Then they went through the Marquesas group, thence to Tongareva (where they took mails for Suva, Manahiki and Pago Pago. 2 hey sail for western groups A Floating Museum. The Danish yacht Monsunen, which has sailed for the more western islands in quest of further trophies for the Danish Royal Museum, is herself a veritable museum. On deck when she was in port was a pen of huge turtles, or tortoises, from the Galapagos Islands, measuring across the back up to three feet, and each capable of carrying three men. According to the scientist in charge, these were really small tortoises as Galapagos turtles go. I'o illustrate this he displayed turtles’ hooves as large as those of a good -sized horse. In the saloon there was a charming display of lovely corals of strange design and colouring; all sorts of shells, including pearl shell; and Indian totems from the Panama Canal, which hung alongside beautiful sea urchins. A small swordfish head was displayed alongside a spear from the Galapagos. The swordfish was caught by a passenger off the tourist steamer Stella Polari.s, which lay at Galapagos, while the Monsunen was there. The fisherman courteously presented the to the scientific party. The scientists while at Suva packed many of their treasures, including hundred* of insects caught at the various islands visited, and shipped them to Denmark. The was formerly an Atlantic fishing boat and i* built on sturdy lines, more for seaworthiness than for speed. She has an auxiliary engine and gear for hauling in the trawl for exploring deep waters.