First Polish Vessel

Zjawo II. at Samoa

From Our Own Correspondent.

Apia, May 10

THE flag of the young Polish nation waved for the first time at Apia, when the small Polish yacht Zjawo II dropped anchor in Apia harbour recently. The small vessel, which is of only 28-tons register, has been sailed all over the Atlantic, since her owners (Captain Wladyslaw Wagner, and another young countryman of his) left their home port, Gdingen, on the Baltic, in a similar vessel, nearly three years ago.

The 48-ft. yacht has two masts and five sails, but carries no auxiliary engine.

The two young adventurers who are only in their twenties, left Panama and leisurely cruised Southwards, calling in for a short stay at Manihiki in the Cook Islands where they replenished their food and water supply. Thence they crossed over to Apia in 12 days, the whole trip from Balboa to Apia taking 75 days.

After a few days stay in Apia, the Zjawo II left for Pago Pago (American Samoa), but luck, which had favoured the voyagers so far, left them. A few days after their departure, they encountered strong headwinds and were forced to return to Apia with a broken foremast.

At present they are still here trying to repair the damage.

Mr. Wagner has written a booklet in Polish, dealing with his previous adventures. He intends to sail for Fiji, New Caledonia, and Australia, there to sell the Zjawo II. and acquire a somewhat smaller vessel to return to his home country.