News of Cruising Yachts
pp. 115-117 · Read in the full issue
\ NYONE interested in the history of deep water yacht cruising is likely to be in terested in the Slocum Society, which, so far as we know, is the only organisation of its kind in the world. Formed about 1953, it now has an international membership, and a good deal of historical information at its finger tips.
It offers a reduced-rate cruising-yacht book service, a service of special information on specific yachts, and a most interesting monthly periodical entitled "The Spray" in which current, planned, and past voyages are dis cussed. The membership fee varies but is pay
able in any national currency.
Interested persons should write for informa tion to The Slocum Society, Horn Point, Annapolis, Maryland, USA.
AUCKLAND-SUVA RACE: Up to February 7, there were 14 firm entries for inaugural Auckland-Suva yacht race scheduled to begin on May 12. All are New Zealand yachts except one, DAYDREAM, 27 ft. plywood craft from Sydney, now in New Zealand waters.
Royal Akarana Yacht Club of Auckland, spon soring the event, gives the following list of yachts and owners: MATUKU, ketch (J. Lidgard); AOMA, ketch (G. Smith); DAYDREAM, cotter (P. Fletcher); TAURANGI, cutter (K. Middon); KEHUA, ketch
(G. Clements); HOPE, ketch (G. Norris); LADY PAT, ketch (Thomas brothers); RANG), ketch (M. Anthony); RELIANCE, cutter (W. F. Rush brooke); WANDERER, cutter (T. Buchanan); KISMET, cutter (W. Patterson); RANGINUI, ketch (M. Whitten); NINA, ketch (J. Moody).
There is also an unnamed cutter, still building, owned by M. Goodman.
TAURANGI has been seen in the Islands previously. RANG!, largest present entry, is a new craft. The other boats or skippers have taken part in the Tasman Race.
The race will be very carefully supervised and the fleet will be accompanied by the Fairmile cruiser NGAROMA which will act as mother-ship, maintain radio contact with the yachts, and, via her more powerful radio transmitter, with the shore terminals. The race will undoubtedly create great interest in Fiji and New Zealand and is likely to become more widely patronised, as, at time of the year when it will be sailed, it should normally prove a fairly easy race from a meteorological viewpoint.
Los Angeles-Papeete Race: Mr. Eugene
Overton, on February 6, supplied us with de tails of the present situation in regard to the Los Angeles-Papeete Race planned to commence early June. There are four definite entries: JADA, 56 ft Los Angeles yawl, owner William T. Sturgis; VIVEKA, 73 ft San Francisco schooner, owner Robert D. Fraser; CELEBES, 69 ft San Francisco ketch, owner John H.
Hedden; and QUEST, 64 ft Los Angeles yawl, owner Dr. Howard Murphy.
In addition, the 109 ft San Francisco schooner RAMONA, already known in Tahiti waters, is an almost certain starter, and several other owners have indicated intention to enter but have not yet lodged papers.
These possibles are said to include Walter Johnson's NORDLYS, 800 Paschall's KIRAWAN, John Scripps' NOVIA DEL MAR, and Lyman Farwell's SEADRIFT. These are all very well known Pacific Coast craft.
• DAYDREAM, mentioned as a starter for the Auckland-Suva Race, arrived at Auckland from Sydney via Whangaroa early February.
This 27 footer is claimed to be the first ply wood boat to cross the Tasman. She was manned by owner Peter Fletcher, his brother Doug, and lan Stillman. • SKAFFIE, another 20 footer, reached Bar bados from Lowestoft via ports on February 2, bound round the world, with Nukualofa and
Auckland mentioned as intended ports. Aboo are D. Beard and G. Auchterlonie. • CRUSADER, 27-footer from Hobart, cleas that port for Wellington, NZ, and the US Pacific Islands on February 11. This ones manned by Barry Robertson, 19, and Cripps, 22. • PHOENIX moved on from Auckland Wellington in February, after replacing a wt infested mast. From there Dr. Reynolds >
lily are expected to soon head for Sydney continuation of the world cruise. > EOLO, 57 ft Sydney cutter, cleared that I for Auckland and the US via Islands ports February 5. With owner-skipper Len Gul is Peter Dona, John Johnson—described as New Guinea plantation manager—Derek Ms, and ferian Leyland. Papeete is to be a f of call. > LANG SYNE will be remembered as sing the Islands in 1947-48. Bill and Mis Crowe have recently had a book pub ed on their world voyage—" Heaven, Hell Salt Water". » STORTBECKER Ill's successor, now build in England for Dr. Franklen-Evans is a b-designed yawl, 391 ft x 29 ft x ft ft. She should be seen in the Pacific by winter of 1957. • OMOO, possibly the first Belgian yacht circumnavigate the world—she called at nds ports several years ago—is now bound the Seychelles via the Mediterranean, with van de Wieles still in command, i NANI of Honolulu, mentioned recently, red Papeete February 18 via Caroline nd, Southern Line Is., 27 days out of olulu. Aboard are Mr. and Mrs. John E. tall and baby daughter, and Mr. Norman 3aker. NANI was built at Longbeach in D, is a ketch 37 ft x 111 ft x 6 ft with 5 hp Gray Marine diesel.