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CRUISE OF THE ALFREDA.
The spirited owner of the trim yacht
Alfreda (Mr. H. J. D. Munton) sets an ex-
cellent example to yachtsmen by keeping a
readable log on his cruises. His craft with
a Christmas party has recently returned from
a trip which, judging from the incidents re-
corded in the log, must have been very en-
joyable. She left the anchorage at Glenelg
on December 27 with a puffy westsou'-
wester that laid the lee rails under water.
After rounding Troubridge Shoals and
Marion Reef she made a straight
run for that bold and remarkable rock— the
Althorpe— which is said to be undermined
with caves, the retreat of the penguins,
gulls, and seals. All the pleasant sights of
the sea were furnished the voyagers— por-
poises played around the craft, gulls wheeled
overhead, and the water sparkled in the sun-
shine ; yet amidst all these allurements one
individual persisted in leaning over the
rail and groaning. The run down In-
vestigator Straits was most enjoyable,
with a cloudless sky, a fresh southerly
breeze, a sea smooth (as nautical men regard
it), and a well-equipped yacht. Only one in-
dividual, and he a doctor,, chanted ' A trip
to the hills with Susie' and meant it.
The gay craft glided in at Cape Spencer,
Emms Reef, and Wedge Island under
all sail. The sea was breaking 50
feet over Emms Reef— a grand sight.
A salute of three guns was fired as the
Alfreda swept past in view of the house on
Wedge Island, and she steered a course for
the notable Thistle, which, under the broad
silvery light of a full moon, had a strange,
weird look, a curious rock set in a changing
sea. The yacht skirted the rock and then
headed away for Grindal Island and Cape Don-
nington, but was becalmed off Taylor's island.
On the 29th she passed the yacht Edith with
a holiday party, and exchanged nautical com-
pliments, including; fish. A course in com-
pany was shaped for Port Lincoln, where the
fleet of homely oyster boats actually added
to the picturesque beauty of that noble
harbour. By the way, some of these same
oyster boats have been trim yachts in their
time— a parallel case, to the high-mettled
racer's descent to drawing a dust-cart.
The Alfreda showed the Edith a wake, and
when she hove in sight at Port Lincoln her
advent was heartily welcomed', as her popu-
larity is great there. The hospitable resi-
dents Dr. Atkins and family made the stay of
the party pleasant. There was a round of
amusements, boating parties and fishing ex-
cursions, including a visit to Judge Bundey's
yacht Pastime in Boston Bay. The Alfreda
left on December 31 for Becker's Island,
where a predatory shark was caught,
and received the penalty for his crimes.
Sailors hate a shark as a landsman hates a
snake. A raid was made upon the rabbits,
which have colonized the island. New Year's
Day was spent festively at Port Lincoln, and
some splendid sport in fishing was obtained.
Another yacht, the Mycumbra, came on the
scene. The yacht Albatross, in racing gear,
came out to meet the Alfreda. The
race was a good one. The Mycumbra
passed the Alfreda at first, but the latter
getting a freshener of the breeze ran clean
past her. January 2 was regatta day, and
there was a great display of bright bunting,
and the yacht's saloon was made charming
with flowers. The log describes the races,
which have been already recorded in our
columns. On her return trip the Alfreda
encountered a pretty rough sea between
Wedge Island and the Althorpes, and she
reached Brighton after a good run, and re-
ported a most enjoyable cruise.
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