MAIDEN TRIP OF THE STEAM YACHT LIVADIA.

Patea Mail, 22 January 1881, Page 3

MAIDEN TRIP OF THE STEAM YACHT LIVADIA.

The Czar of Russia’s new steam yacht, the Livadia, built on the Clyde, made her maiden trip to Ferrol, arriving on the 25th October. Sir E. J. Reed, M.P., writes a full and very interesting account of the voyage. He says: “I have for several years past publicly maintained that ships like the Livadia, of small length and immense breadth, could be driven at high speed, and in maintaining this principle, I have stood almost absolutely alone in England. Owing to the enterprise of the Russian Government,|the matter has been put to the test, and a ship of only 238 feet long; and with a breadth (153 feet) twice that of the Inflexible, has at her very first trial, and under some temporary disadvantages, attained a speed of nearly sixteen knots per hour.” Speaking of the behavior at sea of the Livadia, Sir E. J. Reed says :—“ We steamed away into the teeth of a Bay of Biscay gale,

which steadily grew angrier and wilder as we advanced. AM that night and the following morning it blow its hardest, accompanied with very heavy seas indeed. The actual rolling and pitching of the Livadia at the height of the gale was exceedingly small, never exceeding 4deg for the single roll, and 7dcg. for the double roll, or sdog. for the forward pitch and 9dcg. for the double pitch, so to speak. The meals were served throughout the voyage, the dinner table was laid, and the candelabra stood upon it, even during the storm, exactly as if the vessel had been at anchor in port.”