Norana for Auckland

Evening Star, Issue 19665, 19 September 1927, Page 11

Norana for Auckland

The news that- Mr 0. W. Sundstram had disposed of his fine launch Norana to Mr A. R. Brett, of Auckland, came as a distinct shock to all Otago boating men, as well as to a host of friends whose pleasure it has been on many occasions to be invited by the genial Charliee to a. trip down the harbor. In Otago Harbor she was in a class of her own, and even Auckland yachtsmen admit that, while they certainly had larger craft, they had nothing to come up to the Norana in the way she was fitted out. From the time when the first plans were drawn her owner had decided that ho would have a boat to ho proud of, and, having the sea and its ways bred in him, it was only natural that when the eventful launching day arrived the boat slid down the ways a pcrlcct product of the brain that designed and the yard that built her. Commissioned, she was found to be replete with every possible comfort and fitment, a considerable quantity being imported from a well-known firm of yacht chandlers in Glasgow. Many articles were miniature replicas of ship-size fittings, all of which were true to the most minute detail. Many a leisure hour had been spent on thinking out the hundred and one articles comprising the full equipment, and the result was a boat that was as complete and efficient as it was possible to be. _ _ As many are familiar with ISiorana s exterior appearance, it will perhaps be unnecessary to describe her, except to say that her total overall length is 40ft, beam 9ft 4in, draught 3ft Gin, and her general appearance is that of a boat with a raised deck forward, carrying a useful flare, a main saloon amidships, and a roomy cockpit aft. In describing the interior more detail is necessary, so with that idea wo will start in the bows below decks. Right forward in the eyes of the boat are the chain lockers and compartments lor spare clothes and gear; aft of this locker we stand in the owner’s cabin, which is lighted by four solid brass ports and equipped with two single berths fitted with spring mattrossesand upholstered in blue moquette cushions. Racks for nigs and blankets are snugly fitted under the berths. The walls are painted with white enamel unrelieved, the ilooring black and white squared linoleum. Leaving Iho lorocabin, ue now stand in the engine On our rifdit is a separate tiny cabin fitted out with porcelain basin, lavatory, mirrors, and lockers. The engine room has a very eflicicnt-looking 24-h.p. three-cylin-der Jersey Standard motor complete with dynamo storage battery, switchboard, and serviceable bcnchway. Completely surrounding the power plant is a stout brass-railed guard. The whole of the engine room is floored with studded aluminium to give a; good grip in a soawav. Air fans, suction motor, telegraph dials, and gauges adorn the walls, which are stained and varnished throughout. A heavy reinforced skylight admits the light from the deck, while conveniently-placed ports do the same duty on port and starboard sides. Stopping aft, wo now outer the main saloon. Idle color scheme here is white enamel relieved by gold linos across the cabin roof. Light is admitted by a substantial skylight and six brass ports. The blue moquette cushions extend the whole length of the saloon and up the inside of the boat to the deck. There is ample head room, and looking forward one secs the large figured oak cabinet and oval minor, gramophone, electric fan, and numerous lockers, which are always a highly necessary feature of all ( boats, large or small. The drop-side table occupies the centre of the floor, the floor covering being a serviceable brown inlaid linoleum. Electro-plated _ fittings and miniature replicas of ships’ electric light fittings adorn the walls, while the ports are screened with silk blue-and-gold curtains, Proceeding still further aft, wc now stand in the galley,. which is on the starboard side, and is fitted with a two-burner petrol stove and plate rack

Otago’s Finest launch Crew’s Appreciation

completely walled in asbestos sheeting. Ample locker space is provided for the usual culinary utensils, which are placed beneath the stores; On tho port side are the crockery lockers and -vuarobe, tho crockery hearing the embossed blue-aud-white of the Otago Yacht Club, with Norana’s name. Stepping lurther aft, wo now stand in the capacious cockpit. On a raised pedestal to port are Urn steering wheel and bridge.telegraph. Seats run down both port and starboard sides, whilst aft is tho counter, beneath which is the steering quadrant and spare line locker. Norana was built to Mr C. W Fundstrum’s order by Messrs Millc-i" Bf'Jf , of Port Chalmers, ana was su.:ccs‘.:»ily launched on December 18, IUU '*Sko took her baptism in a. blustering sou - wester, and since then has driven her stem through-fair and loul weather in and about Otago Harbor • under tho guidance of her owner. Blow high or blow low, it was all the same; the boat had the weight and power, and would drive through any sea. The writer had many opportunities of watching her in action both outside and in, pushing her own weight or towing some disabled craft, and it made no difi'erence, except that with another boat in tow she had to bo eased down to prevent the tow from getting swamped. Norana will be sorely missed by many. Her owner was never more pleased than when ho had the boat tilled with friends, and his tlmughtfulness for old yachtsmen by taking thorn for a run to renew the sights and pleasures of their youth will never be forgotten. Launches with engine trouble, yachts in a calm, craft on a lee shore, all will remember the glad fceliug that came when the old Norana showed up, waving a friendly tow-line. One grows regretfully reminiscent as thoughts of past days crowd one another, and in succession one remembers those summer picnicking days at tho Heads, the shag-shooting trips outside with the inevitable allusion to greasy pork, and,utter collapse of some poor landsman; the rounds of the club openings and tho following races and regattas, after which it was always inevitable that several crews would foregaher aboard Norana and argue the races over again. At these times, if the handicappers were on board, it was always advisable for them to retire to the forward cabin, as yachtsmen, as a whole, are nothing if nob outspoken. Tiie old ship will be missing when the Sanders Cup trials come along this year, and tho sound ol her whistle reechoing among the hills as she entered the Boat Harbor will bo absent at the close of the day. During her career in the Otago Harbor she must have taken hundreds down tho Bay, and many visitors to Dunedin from the north and overseas were given their initial trip on our waters through Mr Siuulstnnn’s thoughtfulness. During one Sanders Cup week the boat was placed at the disposal of Lady Jclhcoc and party, who were all very pleased with the launch and her appointments. Norana is an exceptionally easy boat to handle, and is manoeuvred quite easily in restricted waters. She has great power astern, and in an emergency can be brought to a dead stop in very little time. Outside in the long seas she has a very easy motion, and, plugging into a sou’-wester from Moeraki to the Heads, she hardly put a drop on tho forward deck.

Fourteen years is a long time to have one launch, and possibly Mr Sundstrum has not now the time that ho would wish to devote to his craft. Be that as it may, her going to Auckland will be a decided loss to Otago boating while being a distinct acquisition to the waters of the Waitemata.

Mr Brett, her new owner, has had a run outside in the boat, and expressed himself as being very pleased wth her performance. It is possible that her new anchorage will bo at Stanley Bay, and, judging from her new owner’s remarks, tho old ship will be kept as she always has been, right up to the mark. Norana—hail and farewell!