Cruise Of The

"Cimba"

Suva to Auckland by Schooner

ATRIP in the schooner “Cimba,” from Suva to Auckland, and return, is being undertaken by three residents of Fiji. They expected to reach Auckland by the beginning of May.

The “Cimba” is a 5-ton Bluenose (Nova Scotian) schooner with overall length of 35 ft., beam of 9 ft. 6 in., and draft of 5 ft.

The trip is to be a holiday and business cruise from Suva to Auckland and back.

The crew of three will be G. F. Russell, owner and skipper, Mr. J. Molloy, of Suva, and Mr. F. Beddoes, of Lautoka, Fiji, Mr.

Molloy will not be making the return journey. It is expected that the trip take about two weeks each way, and a stay of two or three weeks is planned in Auckland.

The “Cimba” is regarded as a famous little vessel by those who take an interest in little ships that do big things—a book which tells of her voyagings, “Saga of Cimba,” is viewed as something of a classic in the field of ocean cruising literature.

“Cimba” commenced her career as a Nova Scotian fishing schooner in 1929 and achieved early’ fame by winning, for three years in succession, the big annual free for-all race in those waters. The follow ing year she was purchased by two young Americans, 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, it is alleged, turned completely over, and then was driven hundreds of miles south of her course under bare poles. After a tempestuous 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 run of 198 miles in 24 hours, considered to be the best day’s run fo? a small 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 a 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 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 minor damage to her keel and planking. Not a seam had started nor a frame budged.

SHORTLY after this she was purchased by Major Lazarus of Suva and sailed for many years with distinction in Suva yacht races. Four years ago she was acquired by Sir Philip Mitchell on his arrival as Governor in Fiji. The “Cimba” was thoroughly overhauled and reconditioned, and to-day is to all intents and purposes a new ship. The present owner acquired her from Sir Philip Mit chell when he left Fiji recently.

The “Cimba.”