LOVE OF THE SEA

Hawke's Bay Herald-Tribune, Issue 206, 16 September 1937, Page 12

LOVE OF THE SEA

Our Own Corre»pondent.)

Aucldanders Join ihe Cap Pilar 3AILING 300N

(From

AUCKLAND, Last Night. Boyhood dreams of flrm canvas arcliLng aloft in the fresh trade winds, of tall masts etching ever-moving arcs ln the skies, and the thrill of holding a kicking wheel aa the craft drives onward, have come true for several young men. They always wanted to go to sea, and now they liave— or rather they will . when, during the next day or two. the small barquentine Cap Pilar is favoured by a fair wind — their opportunity. "I'U say I'm keen on the sea," admitted twenty-one-year-old Ken Clay-' ton, of Mount Albert. " What's more, I am going to follow it up. When 1 finish this trip and have a seaaian's discharge 1 am coming right back to .New Zealand to join up with a ship here." Owner of a 22ft. mullet boat, the Maraka he has been for years deeply interested in ships and the sea, and has been trying to go deep water in uquare rig. "I tried to get a berth in the Joseph Conrad and the Winterhude," he said, "and if I had not join.ed the Cap Pilar I would have had a 'go' at the Pamir and Penang when they came hero nejct year.'' After having lived in the barquentine 's spacious, fo'c'sle for two weeks he is convinced that .going aloft is "corker." "There is something fascinating about it — it is dilferent from auytbmg else. I suppose it will be tough for a while in the west winds, but we will get used to that." Boon Companiona, But oue of the reasone for Ken Clayton 's happiness is the fact that he will be accoinpanied by his campanion, Pon Alexander. The latter, whose home is at Ponsonby, is 20, and shares his friend's enthusiasm for things nautical. He once joined the well-known yacht Ngataki for a cruise to Norfolk lsiand. Bad storms, however, swept the navigating instruments overboard, or spoiled those remaining in the yacht, so she put back to port. Both youths are apprentices in a cabiuetmaking factory. Adding to the diversity of occupationB on board are Messrs J. H. Power, 23, a manufacturing jeweller from Birmingham, and Leslie Lethbridge, 25,' a groeer, who hails from Bristol. In New Zealand on business, Mr Powor learned of the voyage of the Cap Pilar, and being of a fomantie disposition he considered that an admirable way to return to his own country. Mr Lethbridge, who has been working in New Zealand for some months, originally intended to spend two or three years working through New Zealand, Australia and Canada, but he could not resist the temptation to join the barquentine. He bas previously made voyages in fishing craft. off the eoast of Cornwall. "I want to get the experience and see something at the same time — that is the main thing," he said. Two other New Zealanders who have also signed on in the crew are Mespra. R. Sutherland, a solicitor, and S. Talboys, both of Paeroa. Mr Talboys, who is 17, is the youngest member of the crow. Doctor from Katikati. Anxious to go to sea since he was six, and now past the half-century uiark, Dr. J. S. (Stenhouso, oi Katikati is probably the most outhueiastie of all the new additions to the Cap Pilar. Ho once made a trip as a passenger in the f'ull-rigger Invercargill from Dunedin to Wellington, and ever since has been anxious to repeat tho cxperienee. " You know, 1 absolutcly refused to go to the islamls uiitil.l could go this w&y," ho confidcd. "Receiitly I had made up my miud to go there, and I was going to sail around in a little sehoouer. That ia tho only way to travel." An ardent sailer of pleasurc boats and a fisherman, Dr. Stenhouse is looking forward to the "timo of his life." He does not expect to havo much to do professionally. Alan Burgesa, oue of the English members of the crew, is signing olf ln, Auckland and has accepted a position as a guide at the Fox Glacier for the tourist season. When that is over he will hoad for the South Sea Islands. He considers it a peeuliar coincidence that his place is being taken by a pnpil wbo attended the same school in Birmingham, King Edward College. Mr Power and Mr Burgess were pupils at the same time. With the rigging set up and witli stores aboard, the Cap Pilar was to transfer to the Calliope Dock in company with the Union Steam Ship Company's Kairanga tliis at'ternoon for seraping and painting. That done she j will relurn to the city side and sail for Mangareva, in the Gambier Archipclngo, with the first fair wind. Wlien she sails, probably on Thursday, she will house '20 sailors in hcr fo'c'sle. Also i'or the first timo in the eruise the three . watch system will be in operation in placo of the former Finnish systcm of i'our, (ivc and six-hour watehes.