How Kona Became Moonfleet

Paul A. Blackford, once part-owner of KONA writes from Suva that we apparently are (Nov. “PIM”) in a bit of doubt as to what had happened to that yacht. We did sort some of it out (Dec. “PIM”), but here’s the S rest of the story, told by Paul: KONA was sailed from Honolulu through Polynesia and Fiji to Auck land in 1953-54. Part-owner Bob Houtz and crewman Roger Skolmen left her in Auckland but Houtz re ; turned to Fiji to become geologist with a Fiji mining company in May. 11955. Since March, 1957, he has been staff geologist with the Fiji Govern ment Geological Survey and is in £ charge of the seismograph set up in r Fiji as part of the IGY programme— he is, in effect, key man in Fiji’s [ tidal-wave warning system. Skolmen returned to the University >of California and will soon get his Master degree in Forestry.

Blackford sailed KONA back to Suva ; in July, 1955, with Mr. and Mrs.

Frank Robinson as crew. He became mine superintendent and engineer at [ Fiji’s biggest manganese mine and I recently bought into Hawaiian Lumber 1C ?;. which is now the sole owner of Fiji Woods Ltd., a company started by the late Harold Gatty.

In 1956 he sold KONA to Chief Petty-Officer A1 Gray, instructor to the FVNR, who renamed her MOON FLEET. He still owns her but she is up for sale. For the record, Houtz and Skolmen are still bachelors, but Blackford married Kuina Taylor, of Auckland, and they have a two years old son and a two months old daughter.