WORLD VOYAGERS

Hokitika Guardian, 14 August 1931, Page 3

WORLD VOYAGERS

NOTED VIOLINIST AND HIS .. xi*'E ARRIVE. MADAME A CAPTAIN. With glistening white hull, spotless deck, and sln-mng crass work, the pu•vate yacht Northern Light gl'.dfd up to Clyde Quay Wharf, Wellington, on Tuesday. The owner of the vess'-l is Madame Joyce Borden Balokovic, u ho, with her husband, ZlHt-e Balokovic, the noted Croatian violinist, is making a

tour of the world. Master of the vessel is Captain William Paul, late of S r Thomas Upton’s Shamrock. Otlr is on board, are Baron Fleetwood, the accompanist, Dr R. L. McCollom, two mates, three engineers, six able seamen, a steward, a cook,,.and a galley boy. Both M. Balokovic and his wife, who has passed all examinations for a capI tain’s ticket, are very keen on the sea. No second glance was needed to see that. He wore a double-breasted topcoat of pilot doth and a yachting peaked cap. The lady was in a dark blue sailor’s jersey, dark blue coat and skirt, and a blue beret. When in San Fran cisco a year ago they thought it would be a glorious holiday to explore the Pacific in their own yacht. The Northern Light was lying; at-Oakland,>'Cali-fornia, the property of; Madame Balokovic’vS brother, Commander John Borden, who three, ■ years before had returned from a voyage to the Arctic regions iy the yacht. Taking the vesselover, the couple started oir their wonderful tour. They visited .the / Marquesas -Islands, Tahiti, Tonga, Suva, and so, on to Sydney. -They ■ left Brisbane at (noon, last Sunday.- wrok (August 2), .arriving here at 10.30

a.m. on Tuesday, .the journey being completed in 8 days 22.], hours. For the greater part of the journey light’ head winds were encountered and the sals were of little use and the auxiliary engines had to be run. LOVE OF THE SEA.

Interviewed in the snug cabin of the yacht, M. Balokovic quickly proved himself as a vital personality. Philisophical widely-read and tolerant, he holds the view that the visits of artists, scientists and educationists is the best way of arriving at an understanding between the peoples of various countries. “J

belong to Ozecho-Slovalda, the Croatian part,” said M. Balokovic. ‘‘We were, all part,” of Austro-Hungary during the war and I, through m.y concerts, was a large contributor to charity in AustroHungary.” Madame Joyce Balokovic, a yacht ng „mptain in her own right, is a daughter if Mr John Borden, a prominent Mw York financier, who, with the assistance of his own yacht, played an important part in convoying American troops across the Atlantic during the war. Alary Borden, the Amu* can author-ss, is h r sister, and Sir Robert Borden, formerly Prime Minister of Canada, is a relative. Madame Balokovic has engaged in yachting ever since she , was a, mere girl, nbstly off the coast of Maine, where sho gained her captain s ticket. “That does not mean a master’s ticket, quite,” said the visitor. “One has to serve so much time on a vessel of 100 tons or over to get that, but I am going to get that some day. I navigate the yacht now—it takes two to make the usual check in working out the ship’s position. “After Wellington we are going to \ tick land, them south and on to 'Melbourne, Adelaide and Perth. After leaving Australia vve go to Java, Singapore, ■Ceylon, India, then through the Suez Canal to wander through the classical lonian Isles.” Madame Balokovic omitted to say that she was made a member of the Royal Geographical Society when in Brisbane as a tribute to her skill in navigation. MASTER- NO STRANGER. Captain Paul is no stranger to AYellington. For some years he was in the employ of the' Union S.S. Company, and resided ashore during that time in Aiaciarlane Street, Wellington. During that period he was in command of several vessels, including the Ivamona and Win-

gatuil He brought out the Otokia from England, and also the tug -Southland, for the Bluff Harbour Board. But his heart is in billowing canvas, and he knows all about engine-less vessels, and how to handle them. That is why he sailed the last’ Shamrock to the States and back again for Sir Thomas Upton-. Captain Paul was greeted by many old friends as soon as the Northern Light was berthed yesterday afternoon. Baron Fleetwood, the young accompanist, who also travels ill the yacht, i.s :i Swede, with, as his name /suggets, a blood relationship with the English. All members of the party live on the yacht

when in port. LUXOR ’ OUSLY EQUIPPED. The Northern Light is a vessel of 250 tons gross, and 14014 in length. She has a 6000 ft spread of canvas, and ir fitted with two Fairbanks-Morse Diesel engines as auxiliaries. Originally designed for Arctic exploration, the yacht has a hull 22in. thick. She was ouiltat Oakland, California, in 1927, and was; -sailed |I,OOO miles to Wrangel Island by Commander Borden brother of Madame . Balqkqvib. She carries an entirely .’British crew of fifteen, the surgeon being the only American on board apart from Madame Balokovic. . The yacht is luxuriously fitted up, each cabin having its own bathroom, ea- h fitted with hot and cold water, while the lounge and saloon are as well fitted up as those on modern passenger j liners. i