VICTORY COMES HOME

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 558, 10 January 1929, Page 1

VICTORY COMES HOME

VENTURESOME YACHT TRIP

GREAT TIME AT NORFOLK

A voyage which will be acknowledged as one of the most ambitious holiday trips undertaken by New Zealand yachtsmen was brought to a safe termination this morning when the seven-ton keel yacht Victory beat her way up the Waitemata in the face of a light westerly to tie up at the King’s Wharf after making an adventurous cruise to Norfolk Island.

Her crew of three. Captain G. George, master of the steamer Hikurangi. Mr. Harold George, owner, and Air. C. Bowman, while full of a story of ‘ unsurpassed hospitality” at the island and lauding the praises of their little craft seem to think nothing of the voyage. To the suggestion: “A bit on the daring side, don’t you think,” the only reply was a nod in the direction of Captain George by the “first mate” and the ready acquiescence of Air. Bowman, the implication being that the trip was safe enough with acompetent navigator. All three were definite that, given the opportunity, they would be off again to repeat the adventure. Having passed the precious compass and sextant ashore the crew got the log book and charts out and in the comfort of the Victory's cabin related the story of* a “great time.”

Yes, they had kept the project quiet because if they found the weather prevented their departure they would * look like three fools.” Preparation had been going on for several weeks. We took no chances.” said Captain George. “The three of us made all the extra sails, sea anchors and oil bags, and renewed all the running gear.” The Victory left port on Wednesday. December 19. and ran into a heavy northerly, which necessitated shelter for the night at Shakespeare’s. Whangaparoa Peninsula. Early next morning the yacht set out for Whangaroa, which was reached on the Friday. The weather was still heavy from the north and the going difficult when the vessel left the harbour at midnight on Saturday. On the way up the coast they passed a Union Company’s collier making Auckland-way. The m*-n of the Victory wondered if they had been reported, but were informed they had not. Cape Karakara was abeam at & a.m. on the Sunday morning, and the yacht reached North Cape about 11 o'clock. A couple of hours later she ran out of heavy rain into grey weather. with the wind E.S.E. All that night a heavy ocean roll was encountered. but good progress was made. The day’s run logged at noon on the Monday showed the creditable mileage lof 212. This was the best day of the j trip. Tuesday was so overcast that CapGeorf the win, showers made .'-ailing unpleasant. Later the wind lightened. so that the run from mid-day «>n j Monday to noon on the Tuesday fell ! to about 120 miles. “A stellar sight taken at 10 p.m. on Tuesday evening gave us our position u.s 80 miles from Norfolk.'' said the navigator. "Next day, although ; sighted Norfolk at 10 a.m., the air was so light that we were becalmed ill the afternoon, unable to make the island. This state of things continued until noon on Thursday. December 2<. i when we came into anchorage at Kingston.” , . At the port they found the Burns Philp steamer Alakamba loading bananas. "The islanders, who were I passing to and from her, were greatly astonished to see us.” remarked Air. Harold George. “We found that the , Victory was the smallest and the only ' vacht <*f its kind that had called at , the island from New Zealand, or from i anywhere, I think.”