Cruising

Yachts

• SEEKER, 30 ft sloop, carrying Jim Kennedy, was at Lelu Harbour, Kusaie, in December, after some unorthodox adven tures on the way from the Solomon Islands. An attempted stopover at Nauru was thwarted by heavy winds and high seas. Then, while sitting out a squall while waiting to enter Lelu Harbour, the Trust Territory ship, MILITOBI, also riding out the squall, gave chase. The Militobi skipper gave orders to "clear the decks, watch out for gunfire" as he gave chase.

Kennedy was able, however, to calm the

skipper before anything untoward hap

pened, and both vessels sailed quietly into the harbour. Next port after Lelu was Ponape. • ANIDAMO, 27 ft sloop, from the Kwajalein missile range, was in Lelu Harbour, Kusaie, in December, with owner John Wuerz, and crew, Thom Nelson and Mike Lawn. After a reunion with Jim Kennedy, in the Seeker, ANIDAMO re turned to Kwajalein. • SOFIA, 90 ft barque, was an August visitor to Nukualofa and Suva. She has been cruising for five years since two Americans bought her in Sweden. She is west-bound round-the-world, changing crew from time to time. At Nukualofa, be cause of her size, she was unable to berth in the yacht harbour, and had to anchor east of Queen Salote wharf. The ship's pet, Varmit, a Mexican coatimondi, was a star attraction when Sofia tied up in Suva. Many were the guesses about its family—a relative of the racoon was probably the closest. Because of quaran tine regulations Varmit was not allowed ashore; in fact, the crew had to put up a $5OO bond to keep him on board.

• Two yacht clubs—Middle Harbour, Sydney, and Royal Akarana, Auckland— are interested in staging races to Suva in 1976. The Royal Suva Yacht Club will work out a programme so that both races may be held, but in different years. A plan by the Transpac Yacht Club to hold a United States to Suva race has been abandoned. The club decided the course would be unsuitable. • INTERLUDE I, 33 ft steel sloop, arrived at Honolulu in November, after in extended cruise in the South Pacific since leaving Auckland on June 15, 1974.

The New Zealand-owned yacht was skippered by John McKenzie, who was accompanied by Rod Blackburn and Allen Lee. After leaving Auckland she called at Rarotonga, Aitutaki, the Society Islands and the Tuamotus. The yacht is up for sale, but if not sold in Honolulu, she will carry on to the US mainland. • The Niue Island Bluewater Yacht Club is making a bid to get on the itinerary of more cruising "yachties".

They feel the island has a lot to offer, but is not as well known as some of the more "fashionable" ports of call.

There is a concrete jetty at Alofi on the western side of the island, in 80 to 100 ft. A buoy is anchored about 175 yds from the landing and is fitted with a rubber fender strip. There is a radio beacon which transmits continuously.

Nineteen cruising yachts visited the island in 1974. They were Ta Area (J. M.

Walker, US), Eros (M. Hornsby, NZ), Dulci mer (P. J. Grange, Canada), Bandora (S. J.

Taylor, Canada), Manu Ote Mite (H. Cien ciala, Canada), in May; Maupiti (R. Hetzel, US) in June; Sea Star (P. Moorlez, Tahiti); Windaway (A. R. Clements, Canada), Kila Kila (R. Bath, US) in July; Panina (D. Pauls, US), Boomerang (E. Lundgren, Canada), Dove (D. Alfson, US), Puffin (G. Taylor, US), in August; Moonmist (D. Chesbrough, US), Circuit (A. Cotton, Australia), Avilion II (S. Rogotzki, South Africa), in Septem ber; Nunki (1. Keith, US), Bobbes (B.

Jones, Germany), Foxtrot (A. Fox, US) in October.