Sailing On Ngatangiia

THERE is a pretty little strip of shallow water enclosed by a string of islets to the south east of Rarotonga island. From here history says that some at least of the famous canoes of 600 years ago commenced their great journey from the Cook Is. to New Zealand. This is Ngatangiia lagoon, only sheltered water close to the island.

Ngatangiia to-day is the home of the Rarotonga Sailing Club, probably the only club of its kind in the Pacific, because it uses out rigger canoes of un-Polynesian de sign with modern-type sailing rig.

The Club’s type of craft have been governed entirely by the sail ing area available. The mile-long stretch of water was once com paratively deep for at least the northern third of its length. Big schooners could enter and lie in shelter, even in a hurricane.

Schooners have been built there long ago. But in later years, native fish-weirs have caused the lagoon to silt up, and the coral has steadily encroached from the south, so that to-day it would be possible to sail a centre-board type yacht in only a very limited area near the entrance to the lagoon at its northern end.

The outrigger canoe, drawing only a few inches with its two-man crew is thus the only answer—and a very exciting one, too, in the fresh breezes that are frequently experienced on this, the windward side of the 21-mile-around island.

Since the 1939-45 war the Club’s activities have varied considerably.

Interest has at times been keen, when enthusiastic yachting men have been attached to the local Administration staff. Then, as their terms have ended, interest has waned for a while, to flare up again with some new arrival. At the moment interest has relaxed a little —with Mr. W. Graham recently on long leave and now transferring to Mangaia, Dr. Tom Davis and family in the States, and other leading lights such as Chief Sur veyor Alf Bailey and Mr. Ron Powell otherwise preoccupied.

Recently Mr. Powell sold his beautifully designed and built Ron Tiki to Mr. Phillip Woonton, of Penrhyn, who has taken the canoe north for his own use. But doubtless, as soon as the Club comes to active life again, Mr. Powell will equip himself with an even more revolu tionary and artistically built craft to challenge all-comers.

When active, the Rarotonga Sail ing Club is a source of great in terest to residents of Rarotonga in general, and its meetings on Satur day and Sunday afternoons are the occasion of a general outing, motor trucks being provided to carry all comers, including the womenfolk and—most important of all—the afternoon tea they provide, to the lovely picnic spot overlooking the lagoon.

Mr. R. G. Roberts of the Adminis trative staff, Gilbert and Ellice Islands, was on furlough in New Zealand in January. He has been stationed in G & E for the past nine years.

Two of the outrigger oanoes of the Rarotonga Sailing Club.