"Vaite" Will Sail Again

As The "Vaiete"

THIS is the schooner “Vaite”—now rejuvenated and re-christened “Vai ete” after the ancient name of the capital of Tahiti. She is shown as she was when upon the reef at Ravoia, Tua motus.

The old “Vaite” was built in New Zea land about 45 years ago of the finest materials. These have stood her in good stead in her varied life in the Pacific.

Her timbers and plankings, of heart of kauri, are still as sound as ever.

The “Vaite” was well-known as a trad ing schooner around the Cook Group, but was sailing under the French flag when she was wrecked in the Tuamotu Islands.

The reef on which she went up was regarded as her last resting place and there her fittings were dismantled and sold. Her hull was bought at auction by Mr. Charles Brown, who is himself a ship-builder. He has refitted her and, in his opinion she will now outlast many of the schooners of more recent birth.

The new “Vaiete” was launched in February in Papeete, and will, it is

hoped, sail the blue waters of French Oceania for another 40 years. Very shortly she will take up her run to the Tuamotus again, equipped with a new 150 h.p. diesel engine. The only con structional change is the widening of her cabin and the addition of a poop-deck which gives better visibility forward