Winds Play

Where The Trade Winds Play

Not everyone wants to go to sea in a converU Islands trading craft, no matter how nicely she me have been converted into a pleasure boat, how goe the cuisine, or how well stocked the bonded store; &i for “PIM” reporter Jim Shortall it was a pleasa change recently and a convenient way of visim Tonga and then going on to Suva.

AS things turned out, despite tl early threat of a tropical ston the entire run from Aucklai to Suva was favoured with ligJ and mainly fair winds, and smoo:

seas. 1

When Trade Winds put out fra Auckland with her nine-man cn —the youngest 14-months-old Pa' son of Skipper Athol Rusden there were hurricane warnings I the radio shipping bands.

Into Drunken Bay No one knew it then, but I storm had already taken Tona new tuna vessel Teiko, and 1 showing signs of swinging towal New Zealand as it moved down I west side of the Tonga Group. I That night Trade Winds puti to Drunken Bay, Rangitoto Islai traditionally a place where shipsa another day, and yachtsmen st complete stowage of surplus ge secure their boats, and generally; themselves of the litter which 1 accumulated prior to sailing.

Next day radio reports were s-

Clear skies, fair winds and sails drawing nicely as the "Trade Winds" heads east. Above right, a pair of Tongan chickens meet their fate and Tongan crewmen Essi and Faa, out beneath the bowsprit, prepare them for the cook.

dte, but a move was made Great Barrier Island’s whal ation, and the real voyage meed on the following morn th a clear indication that the was now heading away to nth-east. lentally, work was proceeding at the whaling station in ation for the opening of the reason, which is on an en scale this year. Captain Fred formerly of Fiji, is well here with his little am a aircraft. vn where the Trade Winds down where they lose a day” le romantic words of that y Hollywood song. But no day st, or gained, on this cruise, iga, though 20 minutes ahead 7 Zealand and Fiji in time, is i the western side of the In lonal date line.

The Days Slide By

thankfully, were the Trade playing, for they would have it a less-than-fair wind idling Tonga. vith Barbara presiding in the and turning out three good per day, ably assisted by chief dess Reidun with the ul aid of Paul, and with the members, including the two n paid hands, each doing wo-on twelve-off trick at the the days slid by. js of a close look at, and some of Ata, Tonga’s southern , were dashed when the island assed at night and was far by daylight. At this point adio brought news of the for Teiko. next afternoon Trade Winds anchor in Nukualofa Harbour, lys out of Auckland, n this is read, Trade Winds robably be winging her way Is Honolulu.

Aboard the converted Islands trading craft “Trade Winds”, “PlM’s” camera records the pause that re freshes. Catering is by Barbara, on the right. Also present: Paul and Reidun, Athol and Ted, and Beau.

Below, Barbara, photographed a little earlier as she presides in the galley. Below her the cabin boy takes his bath—just what a fellow needs in that climate.