A YACHTING CRUISE

Hokitika Guardian, 26 May 1926, Page 3

A YACHTING CRUISE

1 AMONG THE PACIFIC ISLANDS. AUCKLAND, May 24. Tied up to the man-o’-war steps nea the Queen’s Wharf the eighteen-toi - yacht Vision, which returned to Auck > land yesterday morning after an ah 1 sence of twenty-five months among tin islands of the South Seas, was to-daj the subject of considerable interest. The Vision, which is owned by Mi James Reid, left Auckland for Tonga on April 15, 1924. Besides Mr Reid there were on board bis wife, one son and two daughters. The voyage to Tonga was made in the face of strong bead winds, the yacht occupying seventeen days. During the trip a cyclone was encountered and for twenty-one hours the A'ision was hove-to with only a little canvas set. At Nukualofa the Vision anchored for some days. Later she cruised about the Ton.gan group, being warmly welcomed by the inhabitants, botli European and native, of the outlying islands. From Tonga, the Vision went on to Pago Pago, and, alter a stay of a fortnight, was taken to Apia in tow of the steamer Lady Roberts, which was recently damaged in the severe (hurricane which swept the islands of tlie Samoan group. A stop of four months was made at Apia and the yacht then sailed for Levuka. During the voyage very stormy weather was encountered and for two nights in succession the yacht was hove-to. Following a cruise of the Lau group, the Vision was headed for Suva on her return trip. After a prolonged stay at Suva, the Vision sailed for Auckland on May I - Once again she experienced boisterous conditions, the foresail being blown away. After this buffeting, tlie yacht put in to Wiiaiigaiminiu on May 15, and there repaired the damage before coming on to Auckland. Speaking of the voyage, Mr Reid said that he would have been absent from Auckland for a considerably longer period but for tlie fact that his wife was in favour of returning home. Mr Reid’s fourteen-yoar-old daughter Madge, who throughout the cruise assisted in tlie navigation of the yacht, proved herself a capable yachtswoman, frequently being at the wheel at night when the Vision was being tossed about in wild weather.