SAILING THE WORLD

Nelson Evening Mail, Volume LXIV, 14 January 1931, Page 3

SAILING THE WORLD

NORWEGIAN LADY’S STORY “You must have an easy-going nature and not be too faddy about modem household conveniences if you undertake a trip like ours,” said Mrs Julia Tambs, the wife of the master of the tiny Norwegian yacht Teddy, which arrived this week after crossing the Atlantic and the Pacific. The Viking blood flowed steadily in the veins of her husband, said Mrs Tambs, whom she proudly said was an expert sailor. She herself was not fond of the sea. Very modestly she said she had not much courage, but later told of nights at the tiller, when she was on watch, which seemed to belie her words. On such occasions the watches were one hour on and oiie hour off. It was an eerie feeling, she said, to sit alone at the tiller in the dead o£ night and hope that a. steamer would not loom up in front of you. Born and bred in the city, Mrs Tambs took evry quickly to her honeymoon at sea. In the beginning she experienced seasickness during fhe rough weather, but now she only feels slightly squeamish after the boat has been in port for some time. “I really prefer to live on land,” Mrs Tambs said, in quaintlyexpressed English, “but it is certainly very nice to come and see new places. So far we have been nearly two and a half years away. Each time my husband says that this port will be the last, but still we find ourselves rolling on over the deep.” The only place the Tambs stayed at for any length of time was the Canary Islands, where they remained for six months before their fair-haired little boy was born. Six weeks after his birth he was shipped aboard, and for seven weeks his young eyes did not see land. While in tlie Atlantic they sailed in the day time and went to sleep at night. They found their boat could sail itself, and the best times, in Mrs Tambs’ opinion, were when they shortened sail and went to sleep. Sleeping and reading filled their days and nights. Another pastime seemed to be sitting with the feet in a dish of cold water as they came through the tropics. The worst part of the cruise was arranging for provisions. The only vegetables that could be used were potatoes and onions. Everything else was tiimed food, which became a monotonous fare, and the longing for fresh vegetables and fresh fruit was intense. Fruit would not keep for more than two days. The rolling of the boat bruised it, and it rotted quickly. At one period they went ten weeks without eating anything other than tinned food. On arrival at port a meal of succulent fruits were just like medicine to them. ‘T could feel it!” said Mrs Tambs, “I could feel it doing me good as I ate it.” One had to be exceedingly strong and healthy to cruise as they did, Mrs Tainbs said. If a lovely shade of sunburn speaks for good health, then Mrs Tambs is indeed a healthy woman. Brown as a berry, with twinkling light blue eyes that make her face look even browner, she looks as Viking as is possible to imagine. Hers is an original honeymoon. Its length of time will be four years; in another two years she and her husband will be home. Although she is not “of the sea,” as her husband is* she smiles happily and there is an expression on her face which might almost say, ‘''Whither thou goest 1 will go.”