News of Cruising Yachts

• With 1956 under way, we give another reminder to cruising and racing yachtsmen everywhere of two important yachting events planned for this year. First is the new Airck land-Suva race, scheduled for May, details of which are available from the secretary of the Royal Akarana Yacht Club of Auckland which is sponsoring the event.

The other is the Los Angeles-Papeete race scheduled to commence in the first week in

June to allow yachts to reach Tahiti in time for the annual July celebrations.

A u large number of well-known American yachts have already signified their interest or firm intention to enter this revived event.

Details are available from Mr. Eugene Overton 727 W. 7th St., Los Angeles. There has also been talk of another Sydney-Noumea race. The last was raced in September, 1953. It is known that the Noumea civic authorities would en courage the event. • SOLACE, which cleared Rarotonga for

Auckland via Palmerston Island on October 29, arrived at Auckland on December 8 and is now under a complete refit. With Commander Clark and his West Indian companion, Stanley Mathurin, are two Palmerston men, Tuatai and Korinoko Marsters, who assisted in rebuilding the 25-year-old yacht following the stranding on Palmerston. • TRES DAMAS, 47 ft. motor sailer from Quintero, Chile, arrived at Papeete November 19 with seven persons aboard. The 3-year-old vessel is owned by Arturo Prieto Urioste.

Others aboard are Beatriz De Preito, Daniel De Parto, Odette De Parto, Oscar Herrera, and Jo Ann De Parto. Next ports of call had not been decided early December. • VIKING of Sweden, in which Sten and Brita Holmdahl sailed round the world several years ago, has been sold to another Swede and is now bound for the Pacific. The Holm dahls have purchased a 54 ft. hull and are now preparing it for another world cruise in due course. A book on their last voyage will soon appear.