FLOATING PALACE

Hokitika Guardian, 25 September 1931, Page 7

FLOATING PALACE

MR VANDERBILT’S YACHT. ' VESSEL TO VISIT DOMINION 1 . Au interesting and detailed account of Mr W. K. Vanderbilt’s motor-yacht Alva, which is on a world cruise at present and will shortly visit New Zealand, was given recently by Mr G. Sage, of the steamship Makura ; who visited the yacht while it was lying at anchor, re cently at Papeete. It was plain’ from Mr page’s description tnat the yacht is one of the most palatial private yachts afloat. It was built at the Germania shipyards, Kiel, and its tonnage is 2160, which makes it one of the largest vessels of its type in the world. According to Mr Sage, the expenses while the yacht is on its cruise amount to 2500 dollars a day.

Jt way designed by its owner, Mr W. K. Vanderbilt, son of the famous American banker, who is a multi-mil-lionaire and a marine architect by pro fession, with offices in New York. The Alva is powered with twin eiglit-cyc-linder Diesel engines, each of 2600 h.p. which gievs it an average speed at sea of 16 knots. It has a white hull and superstructure, with yellow funnel and has steel masts with modified * . ,4 crosstrees for which a full suit of sails are carried in case of engine trouble in mid-ocean. The forward mast has a searchlight and electric syren, ' On its present cruise the yacht has travelled from Kiel to Southampton, and thence to New York, Panama Canal, Galapagos Islands, Marquesas Islands, Tahiti, and the Society Group, and Samoa, It will probably visit New Zealand before continuing the cruise to Australia, Java, the Phillippine. Islands and Japan. Only Four Guest*. Mr Vanderbilt is accompanied on the yacht by four guests. The crew numbers 55, nearly all of whom are Germans, who speak good English. There are also two motion-picture cameramen,, taking films in natural colour; an artist painting tropical fish, specimens of coral, shells and marine growth; a taxidermist to classify and mount insects and butterflies caught on the cruise; and two radio operators in charge of the most powerful radio installation ever placed aboard a. private vessel. Loud speakers are arranged in all parts of the yacht, even in the crew’s quarters, and a daily newspaper is published on board. The guest accommodation is extremely luxurious, with the main saloon panelled in mahogany, and four staterooms each furnished in a different style. On the upper deck is the smokeroom and lounge, under the bridge is the chart-room, captain’s room and another spacious lounge. Ample space is allowed everywhere, with easy chairs that can be moved to any part of the wide after-deck. “All the private rooms had been constructed quite regardless of cost,” Mr Sage said. “They would be equal to any similar suites on any of the crack Atlantic liners. Forced hot ancl cold air, and also ice-water, was laid on to every part of the yaclit. » Light Quick-firer, “On the forward deck was a salute gun, a light quick-firer, mounted on a permanent base. A machine-gun was stowed away below. The bo’sun said that the yacht had been equipped with a machine gun for cruising m eastern waters. A complete diver’s outfit was carried in case of emergency and a deep-sea trawl, with five miles of steel cable, was on the fo’c’sle head. Two built-out steel guards were in position at the stern to prevent the cable from fouling the propellers. “An electric sounding machine, two lifeboats, and two high-powered speedboats, direction finding apparatus, and many other refinements are part of the Alva’s equipment. Each member of the crew has a separate room with hot and cold water laid on.”