Yachts For Tonga
p. 42 · Read in the full issue
'l lex ' to Become a Mission Ketch
TWO New Zealand, yachts recently have been sold to Tonga, for service in that Archipelago.
One of Auckland’s best known yachts, the 80ft. schooner Satanella was sold in September to the Government of Tonga for use as a private yacht by the Gov ernment and certain mission groups. The schooner’s name has been changed to ’Otu Anga ’Ofa, which is Tongan for the Friendly Islands.
The well-known Wellington 52 feet auxiliary ketch “Hex” has been sold to the Free Church of Tonga, and sailed from Wellington for Tonga, via the Tubuai Islands and Tahiti, on October 14. The voyage was expected to take ohmif qiy wppltq Few alterations will be made to the “Hex” before she becomes a missionary ship, since her ketch rigging and her draught of 7 ft. Sin. make her naturally suitable for the work.
The “Hex” will be sailed to Tonga by Mr. N. W. Thomas, his 15-year-old son, a mate-navigator, a representative of the buyers from Auckland and two Tongans (Kouli Tautuua and Uga Tautuua—the former of whom will be the skipper on the vessel in Tonga), The route has been specially chosen to avoid tropical storms.
The “Hex,” was much publicised when she crossed the Tasman for the 1946 Sydney-Hobart yacht race. Her name has been changed to “Tuuaki Tau,” which means defender.