For Gipsies Of The Sea

Rarotonga Rendezvous

In ancient times, when the Polynesian vikings were the lords of the Pacific, Rarotonga bore the significant title of “the roosting place of migratory birds”. There are signs that it is earning that title again.

By Gordon Russell

LATE September there were no less than four little ships of foreign extraction moored cheek by jowl in Rarotonga’s little pocket harbour of Avatiu. Like a bevy of ducklings with momma, they lay alongside Inspire, Rarotonga’s old faithful.

Flying Walrus, September 19, was the first-comer, Canadian owners John and Diane Wells quite un conscious of their news value (see PIM, October); the next day, Novia, a tidy 35-ft, double-ended ketch, home for some seven years to a young American couple/ Leigh and Ann Gregg; and the next day White Hart, roomy ketch of Canadian Anthony J. Reeves, on his third visit to Rarotonga; a week later, Little Bear, 36-ft American ketch, owned and conned by two contented and seasoned sea dogs, Buzz and June Champion.

The first three were southbound from Tahiti or kindred parts; Little

Bear, northbound from Sydney. All, it transpired, were staunch mem

bers of the South Sea Cruising As sociation, of Cali fornia, created for the very purpose of binding to gether the grow ing band of families who in sist upon going to sea in little ships.

There is no doubt about the genuineness of this breed of men and women who have chosen the sea as the art of

present-day living.

The Champions in Little Bear and the Greggs i n

Novia have been wandering ron the Pacific for eight years n and that they like it is unquestior Chief problem for most of th nomads is how to keep the v from the cabin door. The days wl you could write a book about: are over. Too many books.

Seasonal albacore fishing off Californian coast is one answer t. the Champions have found effect; The albacore begin to show about July 4—an easy date Americans to remember—and so arduous fishing for three mon will usually produce a che» adequate enough to justify the i

The four little ships, "Little Bear", "Novia", "Flying Wall and "White Hart" with "Inspire", extreme right.

Photo: G. Rus

he year off, as it were, on the m of the ocean, and in ports hoice. With careful budgeting, ourse.

Little Bear, the midship on can be bulkheaded off to e as a well for ice blocks and core; hence the odd sight of a ;y in the eyes of the ship, sub to every motion. Here, says s Champion, June performs ides, under the circumstances, le Champions left Auckland stime in 1955, dallied at Noumea Brisbane, had nine months in ley, and now are homeward id for the US via Honolulu, and be Borabora. ley left Rarotonga on October same day as Novia, the latter hbound for Auckland and trail- Flying Walrus, which had a days start.

'hite Hart, with eight Cook iders aboard, departed for Auck l on October 17. No one can i the flow of Cook Islanders New Zealand and this small ure on the part of Anthony J. yes is just another way of keep down maritime expenses.

C the moment only the familiar Inspire remains, the jaunty little Brixham trawler that has le local history with its charmed and is now, alas, condemned mfit for the rigours of the sea. imour has it that the Cl Admin stion plans to use her as a eship.

Iready 13 ocean cruisers have ted awhile this year in one or other of the two tiny basins, rua and Avatiu, that offer respite Rarotonga to these nomads of sea. bis is the highest total for any year since 1921, according to local Customs entries, and no bt a few more will show up be the little ships bow out to the reaching hurricane season, part from being a convenient de mure point for New Zealand, why growing penchant for Raro ?a? ; seems that the easy tempo ? suits these maritime gipsies, they are impressed with the iber of homes made open to n. lenty of fruit and vegetables, too, L-stocked stores, a pleasant mce of officialdom, and no ?uage problem. English as she poke, these days. n eye, ear and throat specialist ?eon, Mr. J. R. Wheeler, will ce a 10-weeks visit to Fiji and HC territories at the invitation he Colonial Office.

AP-Reuter correspondent for p u a-N e w Guinea, Mr. Dick erscough, has been reposted to gapore. His place in Port Moresby been taken by Mr. Terry Downey, Melbourne.