An American Yacht In Rarotonga

Getting Away From It All

From Our Own Correspondent

Rarotonga, Sept. 20

FROM all over the Pacific come reports of little boats setting out to seek a quite asylum in the Islands.

People, sick of it all, are trying to get away from a confused and distracted world.

Here is one of the South Seas wanderers—the little yacht “Myrtle S,” registered in Honolulu, which" arrived in Rarotonga on September 11—29 days out from her home port. Completely

casual about the trip, the owners, Jim Price and Stan Miller, said thev bad nothing to report, other than catching a few dolphins. They had met with all sorts of weather, but nothing serious to"

hinder their progress. No other land was sighted betwe'en Honolulu and Rarotonga.

They arrived one day ahead of their planned timetable.

Their coming was expected. Before leaving Honolulu, they were in radio contact with Mr. S. Kingan, who operates an amatuer broadcasting station in Rarotonga.

THE skipper, Jim Price, is a Californian engineer who worked in Honolulu throughout the war. His younger companion, Stan Miller, a resident of Honolulu, has been flying in the Pacific area as a US pilot. This is his first experience as a seaman. Having traversed the Pacific the fast way, he is now seeking relaxation by visiting the Islands in the old-fashioned slow way— and he likes it.

Price says: “I am just the guy who

the navigator, cook and musician. He is a darn good navigator and a gives the orders. Stan is darn good cook but I am not saying anything about his ukelele play ing ! ”

Jim Price built the “Myrtle S” himself at Berkeley, California, in 1937. With an overall length of 34 ft. it is con structed on the familiar “Seagoer” lines and is schooner - rigged. The workmanship is thor ough and the boat is in excellent condition. Ample electric power is provided by a windcharger carried on the mast.

When she was com pleted, Price sailed the yacht down the coasts of California • and Mexico.

Being completely satisfied with her performance, he set out for the Marque sas, where he spent abouf two months visiting the principal islands. Next, he went to the Tuamotu atolls, and eventually he arrived at Tahiti. After three months there, he sailed north to Honolulu, arriving just before the outbreak of World War The “Myrtle S” was then taken to California and put into storage, while her owner returned to Honolulu to work as

an engineer during the war.

As soon as possible after the war, Price got his little ship afloat again and sailed it back to Honolulu, and thence to Raro tonga, in continuance of his interrupted voyaging.

Although they have no definite plans for the future, the yachtsmen expect to leave for Tahiti sometime in November.

Put they have many friends here and they are in no hurry to leave.

Soon after its arrival, the “Mvrtle S” was involved in a sensational runaway attempt by escaped prisoners reported elsewhere.

The American yacht, “Myrtle S,” lying off Rarotonga.

Below: Mr. Jim Price (right) and Mr. Stan Miller (left).