Suva's "Cimba"

Governor Soils Famous Bluenose Schooner

By Leigh Shaw

CONSPICUOUS among the few pleasure craft now in Suva Harbour is the handsome little black-hulled schooner owned and sailed by Sir Philip Mitchell, Governor of Fiji. Conspicuous she has to be, for she is “Cimba,” genuine Nova Scotian Bluenose, and a spanking little thoroughbred that must stand out in any company.

Of the apparently countless thousands of young men who yearn to voyage round the world in a dream ship, many have read “Saga of Cimba,” a classic in deep sea-small-craft literature, that portrays in outstanding prose the character of this little 'ship and the remarkable experiences of Richard Maury and his shipmates in sailing her from Nova Scotia to Fiji.

A midget among her many sisters on the Nova Scotian coast, “Cimba” com menced her destined career as a fishing schooner in 1929, and achieved early renown by winning, for three years in succession, the big annual free-for-all race in those waters. The following year she was purchased by two young Ameri cans, sailed to New York, and there fitted out for a round-the-world cruise.

On the first leg of the journey, New York to Bermuda, “Cimba” gave early proof of her sterling qualities by riding out a North Atlantic December gale in which, among other things, she capsized, and turned completely over, and was driven hundreds of miles south of her course under bare poles. After a tem pestuous fortnight, during which several larger vessels foundered, “Cimba” sailed unscathed into Bermuda to find that she, too, had been written off as lost.

The next leg, to the West Indies, pro duced another highlight, a run of 198 miles in 24 hours, considered to be the best day’s run for a fore-and-aft ocean cruiser up to that time. Later, to prove that this was no accident, “Cimba” out sailed many a companion en route, and put up a record run of 19 days from the Galapagos Islands to the Marquesas, averaging 150 miles a day, in spite of calms, fair winds and foul.

Her speed and seaworthiness estab lished beyond doubt, “Cimba” next demonstrated her rugged strength. Swept on to Suva reef one squally night by a freak current, she was pounded on the coral for two nights, and after much difficulty dragged off by a tug—literally dragged—and beached in Suva Harbour.

In past years, several other vessels, large and small, had been swept on to the same reef, all to break up within a few hours. “Cimba” survived with damage only to her keel and planking. Not a seam had started nor a frame budged.

With such proof of all-round merit behind her, it was only fitting that she be made ready for further conquests. But her voyagings were over. HM Fiji Gov ernment took a hand, and, festooned with red tape, the “Cimba” lay so long awaiting release that the owner was forced to sell her and journey back home.

Thus “Cimba” came to Suva to stay.

THIS little schooner may not be the first Bluenose to reach these waters, but she is certainly the tiniest. Of barely five tons, “Cimba” measures 26 feet on the waterline, 35 feet overall, and has a beam of 9 feet, 6 inches and a draught of 5 feet. Her keel, stem, frames, etc., are of oak, and her planking is red pine below water, white above. All her

sails are inboard, her deep-sea rig being jib, foresail and jib-headed mainsail.

The “Cimba” is possibly unique among professionally-built craft in that she was designed and built without the aid of draughtsmanship or even a model, her eight life-size moulds being shaped and gauged and tacked together and built upon by eye alone. But the eye em ployed was true, and functioned well; it belonged to one Vernon Langille, master builder of the Bluenose school. To him is due the graceful sheer and beautifully clean run of this little aristrocrat that now rides trim and buoyant at her moor ings in Suva Harbour.

Sir Philip Mitchell has an eye for a ship; and, very soon after his arrival in the Colony, the “Cimba” changed hands again, and in no time she was on the PWD slip, being overhauled and gener ally rejuvenated by Alec Bentley and his craftsmen. New masts were stepped, the original gaff-rigged mainsail restored and to-day, re-named “Bluebell,” she heels gracefully to gentle breezes in quiet waters.

Conspicuous, then, among the few pleasure craft to be seen in Suva Har bour to-day is the dainty schooner “Blue bell.” But it is by the name “Cimba” that she will always be thought of by her many admirers, and there is some thing in the swift, sure motion of this slim, beautifully proportioned structure that will always speak of the roving, valorous, and untamed spirit of “Cimba.” the lioness.

Mr. Frank Shann, MA, headmaster of Trinity Grammar School, Kew, Mel bourne, who was one of Australia’s most distinguished educationalists, died sud

denly at his home recently, aged 61 Many youths from the Pacific Tpvrfinrioc passed through Trinity, which Mr Shann built up into S a famous institution.