News Of The Small-Ships

It Happened In July:—It Is

ot always appreciated that the •halers, mainly American, of last mtury which contributed so much > the discovery of the Pacific, were jssels rarely over 350 gross tons.

Typical was the Smft, 321 tons. aptam Francis F. Worth, wrecked i Rarotonga, July 15, 1863. Old cords show that her owner, homas S. Rathaway, despatched ;r from New Bedford, Mass., the ■evious October 12 Between then id her loss she had shipped home barrels of sperm oil by another ssel. Exact point of the wreck id fate of her crew are not stated. le was merely one of scores that st their fate on some Pacific reef.

Two other wrecks, details unlown, occurred in this month in 16, the 20-ton frigate La Seine beg lost near Noumea and the )bart brig Breeze near Apia

Radio Watches Improv-

G;—There is official word from go Pago and Papeete this month developments of great interest to isters, owners, and insurance npanies associated with small >sels plying in Polynesia waters.

Ghief Caldwell, Tutuila Radio, Pago Pago, Samoa > advises that his tion is now maintaining 24-hour JSh international radioephony distress and calling

frequency of 2182 kc/s. Replies are made on 2845 kc/s. Tutuila Radio thus becomes the first and only Islands station to provide such a safety service. Centrally situated as Pago Pago is, an efficient dis tress watch there will serve craft over a wide circle of Island waters.

At the same time, Post & Tele graphs Chief Lemoine, of French Oceania, advises that Mahina Radio, Tahiti, has also established a 2182 kc/s distress and communications watch, thus further reducing the confusion of frequencies adopted by the various Pacific administrations.

Watches are: Monday to Saturday inclusive, 0000-0030, 0400-0430, 0500- 0530, 0700-0800, 1700-1800,, 2000- 2100 GMT. Sunday, 0400-0530, 1700-1800 GMT. Mahina also maintains R T watches with the French Oceania small-ships fleet, ships on 8226.2 kc/s, and Mahina replying on 8776 kc/s, commencing at the following times: 0030, 0230, 0610, 1615, 1800, 2100 GMT. Watches end when traffic has been cleared from vessels calling.

Uturoa and Taio h a e do not normally communicate directly with R T-equipped vessels, but they do maintain 500 kc/s distress watch at the following times and can alert Mahina when necessary: Uturoa, 0400-0500, 1700-1800 GMT; Taiohae, 0400-0530, 1630-1800 GMT. They do

not maintain watch on Sundays, local date.

Weather bulletins by R/T (in French, of course), are broadcast from Papeete Meteo Centre at 0025 and 1825 GMT on 7500 kc/s, from Radio Tahiti broadcast station at 0515 and 2205 GMT on 7125 kc/s, and from Mahina Radio at

0610 GMT on 8776 kc/s. For those who can copy morse and need a while to digest their French into English there is also a transmission on 432 kc/s at 0500 GMT by Mahina.

With Nukualofa also maintaining a 2182 kC/S watch, as reported in May PIM, there is increasing in ducement for small-ship owners — and radio equipment manufacturers —to provide equipment with this 2182 kc s channel, which will un doubtedly become standard eventu ally, plus an alternative 6-8 mc/s working frequency for the longer distances.

Another Surgical Job:

Off on her second voyage following extensive and expensive repairs, the 183-ton Papeete vessel Hiro crashed onto a reef as she approached Taunoa Pass early on June 5. For tunately she was in sheltered water —Taunoa Pass is the shallower eastern exit from Papeete—and was able to get clear and make her way to a -repair yard after passengers and cargo had been un loaded.

Considerable damage was done to her forefoot. Pending the marine Inquiry (Captain John Mervin, ex perienced local master mariner was in command), the Papeete water front bars have an interesting theory. Following the death of Mr.

Louis Hirshon some time ago, the

vessel passed into Chinese owner ship, and it is said that Hirshon would never have approved such a sale. The waterfront was quick to note that disaster occurred right off the beach of the late owner’s home.

In Polynesia such things do not happen without reason!

By Fire And Water:— Hiro

will sail again—but Vahine Tahiti will not. This 49-ton auxiliary schooner took the count at 1 am on June 9 just 4 miles west of Makemo atoll, Tuamotu. There was plenty of water below in this case—but still not enough to put the fire out. :

The 49-year-old Papeete-built vessel was burnt to the waterline ifter being abandoned without :asualty; cause of fire not stated; ill cargo lost.

Vahine Tahiti was built by Charles Brown Petersen—who sur ives her—for Monsieur Grand. She hanged hands seven times through he years and finally in 1949 was cquired by Chas. A. Palmer. Cap ain Maxim Pihatarioe officiated at he last rites.

Vahine Tahiti is the latest of sveral French Oceania vessels to ave been burnt at sea in recent ears. - CONTRACTS LET:—After lengthy slays the New Zealand Lepers’ rust Board has awarded a con act to build three 55 ft x 16 ft edical patrol ketches to the old itablished Auckland yard of harles Bailey Ltd. The contract ice for each is fStgig.SOO. The first ust be delivered within 13 months, id the other two at 4-month in rvals thereafter.

Originally there were to be four these craft, to be handed over spectively to the Anglican, ethodist, Catholic, and Presby rian missions in the Solomons-

New Hebrides area. The latter mission, however, decided that the funds could more profitably be applied to a cottage hospital.

The wooden craft will be used primarily in an anti-leprosy cam paign, but will also be employed in general medical work. They will be well equipped with refrigerators, radio telephone sets, and powered with 90-hp diesels, and will carry a small sail area.

No Luck With Three:—For

the copra planter, and those venturesome souls who sail the tropic seas in small ships, life can be very much a game of chance. This is amply revealed in the life history of the late Mr. George Barratt, of Suva, who died at Levuka on April

8. Of the 23 cutters he owned, he lost every third one at sea.

His first venture, when trading at Natewa Bay, Vanua Levu, was to take a half share with his brother in-law, Sidney Smith, in the Adi Maca. Embarking on his own he acquired the Ruve Cissie and Tadruku, and other cutters which some of the older Fiji residents will remember well. Later, with another brother-in-law, Harry Smith, he traded along the coasts in the cutters Variance and Adi Maca. On his own account he later bought the Tui Savu Savu.

In 1933, he moved into Suva, opened an office in Pier Street, and entered the shipping business there.

He commenced with the Tui Savu Savu, later purchasing the Ono-i-

[?]per: "Mollis Pas III", well-known Noumea el which becomes a holiday vessel when big cruise liners are in port. ntre: "Polynesien" made her last voyage he Noumea-Sydney-Vila run in July. She ere shown leaving Sydney. wer, left: Norwegian yacht "Jenco": and [?] Dutch yacht "Seven Seas", taken at ete recently.

Lau; also going into partnership once more in the Adi Maca, later owning her.

But it was destined that he should never own three vessels. Tui Savu Savu was lost at sea with all hands, leaving him with One-i-Lau and Adi Maca. He tried his luck once more purchasing Tui Vasa Vasa, owned by a Mrs. Vine in which she sailed over from Australia. But he was not long with three boats, for Tui Vasa Vasa was lost on a reef at the back of Ovalau.

Again he increased his fleet to three, purchasing the Island Queen from Mr. C. W. Baker, of Nairai Island. Fate again intervened. Adi Maca collided with Tui Kauvara off Suva passage, sinking instantly.

He purchased the Loma Loma.

She was lost on a reef in the Lau Group.

Once again he went into partner ship with Mr. Baker, who built the Fijian Princess, still trading to-day.

But before she was put in the water he took the precaution of selling the Oni-i-Lau.

He continued trading with Island Queen and Island Princess, later selling the former to BP’s—and she was lost on the first voyage. At the time of his death he owned the Fijian Princess and had recently acquired the Kadavu Levu.

But he once bought for scrap a 10,000-ton Liberty ship, Augustus

Thomas, and the tug USS Grebe, wrecked on Vatoa reef during the war. With his usual humour George said he was then the largest ship owner in Fiji.

George Barratt was a big man with a heart to match his size. Wherever men sail cutters in Fiji waters he will be remembered. (FIR),

Sitting Cloud;—The Hdml

Flying Cloud, of Lord Howe, men tioned last month as still under going refit in the inner basin there, was blown ashore in a heavy blow late March, according to later ad vice. A rudder was lost but no other damage done, and the launch was to be refloated late June.

Pay Changes For Skippers:

-Islands ship masters whose salary s based on Australian rates are in or a windfall. The Federal Arbi ration Court increased marginal wards in June. At the same time, lowever, the pilotage allowance dhch came in two years ago was bolished and skippers who enefitted from it will protest, as ; was worth more than the in reased margin.

Masters of small craft now receive s follows: Cargo vessels, below 60

Rt, £79/8/6; 60-125 Gt, £B7/2/-;

J 5-250 Gt, £9O/8/6; 250-500 Gt,

)7 4/6. For passenger vessels, below

J 5 Gt, £9O/8/6; 125-250 Gt,

)3 3/6; 250-500 GT, £99/14/6.

The increases are retrospective to larch 1. Other deck officers’ rates •e increase proportionately.

Raft Blackout: —T Hough

[M made inquiries of the Port aptain, Callao, as to whether the 55 Pacific raft drift had com enced and whether or not radio as to be carried, no reply had en received to late June. It is sumed that the raft and its two an Peruvian crew did not sail.

Ro Replace “Pom Pom”:—The

:w Zealand Government seems at ;t to have discovered what Cook land travellers have known for ars—that not in all the oceans there another vessel like Maui 'mare.

Towever, our interpretation of this ws item from New Zealand may different from what is intended.

Island Territories Department, it pears, has so far not found any isting vessel for sale anywhere ich they consider a suitable re ,cement for the now laid-up Maui mare. It is believed that they ve abandoned any idea of spend a probable £lOO,OOO now called to give the “Pom Pom” a few ther years of life. The vessel i in Auckland’s “refit row” along -3 the Western Viaduct, awaiting ■ fate.

Meanwhile the 700-ton refriger d freighter Viti maintains cargo itact, and passengers travel by to Aitutaki.

Decommissioning?: There

e been rumours for some time t the well-known 288-ton Kuri rau, formerly of the western ific High Commissioner’s fleet I laid up in Ballina, NSW, under er ownership now, might change ids. Late May it was known that le men of the Vila Star, then i NSW port, transferred to Kuri 'au as though to ready her for ew life, but the owners of Vila r would not comment, though it ears likely that Kurimarau may i go to sea again, either for her sent Sydney owner, Mr. Svere ?, or for someone else.

Asu Decommissioned;

u, still unsold, was called back

to Auckland from her Polynesian wanderings early June and decom missioned, all hands being paid off and the Fiji members repatriated to Suva by air.

There was a possibility of a sale at Auckland. The 300-tohner is part of the assets of the now bankrupt Tasman Steamships Co. and its sub sidiaries, owners also of Viti. A pos sible sale of Vasu to Apia reported in May PIM, did not eventuate.

STILL FlSHlNG:—Captain Johnny Hill, well known in Fiji, who came to Australia with the tuna clipper Senibua several years ago after the Fiji tuna venture had failed, bought a vessel called Metal

Monster in partnership with Mr.

Mick Reid recently and she is now being re-equipped as a tuna pole fishing craft. Captain Hill has been fishing in various craft all round Australia in recent years. It is assumed that Metal Monster might be given a happier name before entering service.

Charting Continued: —The

long, slow task of improving Islands navigation charts received a further contribution this Autumn when HMNZS Lachlan carried out sound ings at Alofi (Niue), and in Apolima Strait between Savaii and Upolu. and at the approaches to Apia. An other naval party worked in Suva Harbour.

Shiver M’Timbers!:—There Is

ood news from England for owners 'f metal hulled vessels operating i waters where fouling is bad. An 8-months’ test on the 17,000-ton ner Union Castle and a 5-months’

“st on a vessel operating in the 'ar East have demonstrated the Bfectiveness of an electrical device hich transmits a continuous high itched vibration through the hull, mdering it intolerable for barnacles ad other marine life. The device not expected to be very expensive i small vessels. The inventor is a English bio-chemist, M. H. M mold.

Rocinante Despatched:

The New Hebrides Condominium Government’s new patrol craft Rocinante was despatched from the yard of Wynne S. Breden Pty.

Ltd., Newcastle, NSW, in June, under command of skipper George O’Brien.

As mentioned in April, Rocin ante, 48 ft x 15 h ft x 5 1 ft, will have the distinction of sailing under two flags—French and British—flown simultaneously from twin staffs.

She will be commanded by a French skipper, Captain Yvonn Guined, lately of the New Caledonia coastal

trade, who was to be picked up in Noumea en route to Port Vila.

Captain O’Brien, now British Superintendent of Works in Vila, is very well known throughout the

Left: Rocinante” New Hebrides Condominium Government's new patrol craft from the yard of Wynne S. Breden, Newcastle. (Photo: Wynne S Breden). Inset: Captain George O'Brien, who delivered the craft. Right: Wandering yachtsmen met in Pago Pago Harbour in June. Left is Swains , now owned by the Jennings family of Swains Island but better known under her former name of "Alsirat".

Next is Jean Gau's "Atom" from New York; then comes Bob Grant's "Kerrigan”, American flag but formerly French, purchased at Papeete.

They lie alongside the Eastern Samoa Government's patrol vessel "Manu'a Tele". (Photo: Pan American Prints).

South West Pacific, having de livered some 40 island vessels to various points from southern ship yards since 1945.

With him as engineer was Mr.

Jack Barley, who has for some time been British skipper of the Con dominium’s other charge, the 70-ft Don Quijote, who is also very well known in WPHC shipping. (See Brett Hilder’s sketch, April PIM, p. 53).

Don Quijote, a twin-screw craft, was built in Brisbane about 5 years ago and is employed as a patrol craft for the two Resident Com missioners. Rocinante will trans port the various District Agents round their areas. She has a small hold forward which will carry 3 to 4 tons of cargo. There is a 4-berth fo’c’s’le for crew, a settee bunk in the wheelhouse for the skipper, and two bunks in the saloon.

A SLW Gardner drives her at about 8 knots. The vessel was de signed by marine architect Arthur Swinfield, of Sydney, who is now specialising in craft for Island work.

Aboard on the delivery voyage via Noumea were the wives of skipper and engineer respectively, and two other persons to be taken aboard in Noumea in addition to the French skipper.

Rocinante is the 71st ocean-going craft to be despatched from the Breden Phoenix Shipyard.

Polynesie Coming:—The New

Messageries Maritimes vessel

Polynesie for the Sydney-Noumea- Vila service cleared France, June 11, on her delivery voyage to Noumea, where she was due July 17 to take up the running from the Polynesien, as mentioned last month.

Interesting Newcomer:

When this appears an interesting addition to the New Hebrides inter island fleet should be entering the service of Mr. Georges Holland, of Emae Island. Named Anaconda, this 48 ft x 18 ft x 3 h ft diagonal planked craft was being redesigned

at the yard of Drummoyne Marine Services, Sydney, in June.

She had been built in England for the Royal Navy as an aircraft carrier tender, designed to ferry un serviceable aircraft between carrier and shore, two at a time. She came to Australia in an aircraft carrier and was decommissioned here.

When purchased by the Sydney shipyard some months ago she carried the Navy registration number B-21 and was given her present name by Mr. Holland.

Originally a powered deck-lighter,

jhe is now given a hold with a :opra capacity of about 15 tons, and s powered with two 48-hp Lister liesels. She has twin rudders. She vas expected to clear Sydney early NEW SLIPWAY:—An important ievelopment in New Guinea waters 5 the completion of Madang Slip rays Ltd.’s new slipway, capable of .andling the largest vessels at pre ent in the inter-island trade. Previ usly vessels larger than the 300mners could not be handled locally.

Costly Welcome:—For Rac

ig alongside the Jap tuna mother lip Tenyo Maru as she berthed for linkers in Suva in June, and >udly acclaiming, with the aid of ime alcoholic stimulus, that Fijians ad Japanese were after all, all the ime colour, Latia Kaunawana, >und guilty of being drunk and isorderly, was fined £3 in a Suva ourt.

SIX-MONTHS BABY:—Launched rematurely last March when a flood vept down the Mary River, but me the worse for the experience -she was gently returned to the adle as the flood subsided —the ;-ton Magi was completed and jspatched to New Guinea in June r Capricorn Charters of Mary »rough. Magi was the eighth of ;r type to come from the Capri rn Yard, and was for use by the stitute of Economic Services, run g copra from Abau to Port oresby.

Captain G. A. Wyeth, who has r orn a groove” between Mary rough and the Islands delivering ssels, cleared for north on June with Mr. Don Dewar as Mate id two Papuan crew-men, plus NG Administration passage rker. The vessel measures 45 ft 14 ft x 41 ft and a Gardner 6LW isel drives her at 9i knots.

Mobile Hospital: The

fdical patrol vessel Heduru was nded over to the P-NG Medical rvice by the Sydney yard of irne Halvorsen Ltd. late June, for ; in the Delta Division of Papua. duru’s hull is the popular Bjarne Ivorsen copra scow —56 x 16 ft 5 ft extreme draught—but the :k structures and hold are to suit ; service intended. A 6LW rdner diesel provides the motive ver. She will carry a European ster, 7 native crew, and 7 medical sonnel, including 4 native nurses.

Port Moresby the hold, which has ommodation for 8 patients, will ) be equipped as an operating atre. r eduru brings the Medical Ser fs fleet up to 3 vessels—the others the converted 66 ft trawlers iwae and Hekhaha. Her shallow ught (she will only draw 4 ft) make her ideally suited to Delta ies. She will operate 500 miles tream to Lake Murray and also the various tributaries. Surgical is will be taken aboard and, if essary a surgeon then flown

from Port Moresby to a suitable point, so that individual patients will not normally have to be brought all the way to Port Moresby. Hekhaha serves all coastal areas east of Port Moresby and Madang, and Arawae, based on Rabaul, serves all other areas. All vessels are, of course, equipped with radio telephone sets.

Captain F. G. Squire, normally master of the Administration patrol vessel Thetis, took over for the delivery voyage. Present also during harbour trials were Mr. D. E.

Watkins, Superintendent of Stores and Supply, P-NG; Mr. L. Goodridge representing Department of Territories; Mr. W. D. Brown, Procurement Officer, Department of

Territories, who checked technical performance; and Mr. H. S. Wynne, of APC, observing the new vessel as a matter of interest to his Com pany which has large oil-search in terests in the Delta Division of Papua.

A photo will appear next month,

Down To The Sea With

OLIVER:—The well-known Oliver Corporation, whose tractors and other farming equipment are well known in Australasia and the Islands, has recently entered the marine business with a si-hp out board motor called the Oliver Challenger.

The designers apparently had the comfort of fishermen in view—it has

reverse gear and —according to the drporation’s own words—a semi

eedless propeller to protect them

■om “unpleasant interruptions.”

News of Cruising Yachts

• Rarotonga Sailing Club, whose itivities vary with the number of yacht g enthusiasts stationed at the island, is just concluded a rather active season, le Club’s 1954-1955 fleet consisted of ur 18 ft. outrigger sailing canoes (with rrectly tailored European-type sails), id three Moth skimmers. Five trophies ;re raced for. The Club hopes to have me more Moths in the water for the xt season. • HAPPY RETURNS cleared an English rt in mid-June with owner Tom Ackland, scribed as a Christchurch, NZ, engineer d a fisherman, and four other crew *mbers aboard. The 45 ft. ex-lifeboat bound for NZ via Panama so should pear in Polynesian waters next Winter all goes well. Ackland plans to use • vessel for fishing. 9 JELLICOE, probably to be renamed ;OWN BEAR, a 30-footer of the famous iVO ESPERO type, is also being readied ir Plymouth, England, for a cruise to w Zealand. Owner Lieutenant mmander R. M. Bailes, RN, who jears to have had some naval service New Zealand waters, has been in lated with prospective cruising cppi lions. Bailes, 31, plans to select one y, and hopes to sail August 1. She I be the shortest waterline craft ever make the distance if she reaches NZ. ► CHIQUITA, 35 ft. Auckland reverse er cutter which cruised through eastern

Polynesia late in 1952, and has since been cruising both U.S. coasts in search of buyer, was finally sold by owner Jack Campbell at Boston early this June. • NAITAMBA was in the news again late in May, when a court action de veloped in Wellington, NZ. American owner Richard K. Smith, now resident in Wellington, had advertised for two men to help him sail NAITAMBA down from Los Angeles. John R. Dobson, a NZ radio announcer, one of the men selected, brought action against Smith for £4BB for alleged breach of contract, but the court found in favour of Smith. The two selected men had been ordered off the yacht before sailing, when they had com plained about dirty conditions aboard.

Other assistance was obtained by Smith and the two men had to find their own way back to NZ. • SKOAL, 30 footer out of Miami, Fla., cleared Balboa April 30 for Brisbane via French Oceania, the Cooks, Samoa, and Fiji. With P. A. Linvill and J. A. Shakely aboard. SKOAL left Miami in May, 1953, arriving there two months later. Linvill then took employment for two years at an ice cream plant and his companion returned home, both to earn more funds to continue the cruise into the Pacific.

SKOAL is a Tahiti ketch. • TAHITI, another Tahiti ketch, which came down to Papeete from Honolulu last Winter, is back again. With Lorrin A. Smith and Phillip Schroder aboard, the little 4-tonner reported in on June 5 direct from Hilo, Hawaii. TAHITI will soon head on for New Zealand. • MOANA, French 36 footer, reported

in May PIM, cleared Taiohae May 30 for Uapou, the Tuamotu, and Papeete, having called at the Galapagos since clearing Balboa March 15. • SEVEN SEAS of Holland (May PIM) arrived Papeete direct from Panama on June 4, having sailed March 14. Next stop said to be NZ en-route to Australia, where the voyage will end. Lonehander Andreas Bounmeester is captain and crew. • JENCO, Norwegian 4!) footer (May PIM) cleared Papeete June 6 for Napier,

NZ, direct, arriving safely July 4. There the Jenssen family plan to settle. • SEA WANDERER. with author yachtsman Edward Allcard lonehanding, is preparing to sail from Plymouth later this year. A circumnavigation is planned for the 36 footer. • YANKEE, Irving Johnson’s 96 ft. brig, was due home at Gloucester, Mass., on May 1 and presumably got there on time. She was reported at St. Thomas, Virgin Is., late March. • Joseph Albrecht, ex-Luftwaffe pilot, with wife, two small sons, and five friends, had reached Santa Lucia, Venice, in his 53 ft. ketch HERCA in June. This yacht, said to be slowly heading for the Pacific and Australia, was reported in PIM last August as having left Genoa some time earlier —so progress is slow indeed. • TE ATA, which cleared Auckland April 30 for Fiji, put back with Lloyd Taylor ill. The cruise is cancelled until next year, • GESTURE, another Auckland yacht which was preparing to head for the Islands, has also been held up with clearance difficulties and is not expected to sail. • WAKAYA, which cleared Auckland early June, arrived Nukualofa June 19, 17 days out on the first leg of a reported voyage to the US where an attempt will be made to sell the yacht. W'ith owner Ted Hayes is his wife, of Tonga, and Peter Bird. 9 SPRINGBOK, little 36 ft. Seabird type yacht which came down through

Polynesia from San Francisco to Auckland in 1948, is brought to mind again in a news item from New Zealand. SPRING BOK was manned by South African A.

T. Hanson and Seychelles Islander Philip Hoareau. The yacht was sold in Auckland and renamed FORERUNNER, and as such she cruised, under new ownership, to Fiji about three years ago.

Hoareau got a job in New Zealand. He

is now planning to' ordss the Tasman Sea. from Milford Sound to “some Australian port” in a 16 ft. dinghy late this year.

He will ride to a sea-anchor at nights and reckons to make 25 miles per day.

The trip has been carefully planned and he will be well equipped within the limitations of the craft’s size. The authorities admit that they have no power to prevent him making the attempt.