M.A.S. At Pt. Moresby

7-Tons Yacht Crosses Pacific

From Our Own Correspondent.

Pt. Moresby, July 16.

ON July 4 a small yacht named the M.A.S., flying the Italian flag, dropped anchor unexpectedly in Port Moresby har bour. There was a good deal of astonish ment when it was learnt that she was on a world cruise and had already been on the high seas since August, 1932. The name of the yacht, M.A.S., is made up of the Latin equivalent (memento audere semper ) of “Remember always to dare.”

Manned by Captain Francesco Geraci and Signor Rosario Dominici, the M.A.S. left Naples nearly two years ago. She had called at Tangier and the Canary Islands before she crossed the Atlantic to Trinidad, Venezuela, Colon and the Panama Canal.

From the Canal she sailed the Pacific by way of the Galapagos and the Marquesas, Penrhyn and Manahiki Islands, Samoa and Fiji.

Captain Geraci put into Port Moresby on account of the heavy weather out from Suva, for his route lay direct through Torres Straits to Batavia.

Wholly decked in, the M.A.S. appeared a very small craft indeed in the Port Moresby harbour. Of only seven tons, 32-ft. in length and a 9-ft. beam, with a 3-ft. draught, it seemed inconceivable that she had weathered the storms and hurricanes of the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans. More over, she appeared to have no accommoda tion for her crew, and there was some speculation as to how the Italians had con trived to sleep and cook under these con ditions.

On being questioned as to the virtues and capacity of their small craft, both men most empnatically stated that undoubtedly the M.A.S. was the most uncomfortable boat in the world, and that in rough seas she could very easily capsize.

On July 13, the M.A.S. sailed out of Port Moresby harbour on a strong south-east trade wind and made for Banks Channel of the Torres Strait, for Batavia, Colombo and Aden. From Aden she will continue on through the Red Sea to Suez, and ulti mately Rome, which Captain Geraci hopes to reach by May, 1935.