South Sea Vagabonds

This book, first published in 1935, is somewhat iconic in Auckland nautical circles and has been reprinted a number of times. Johnny Wray was well known in yachting circles before he passed away in 1986. My edition is a 75 year anniversary edition, with an introduction by Bruce Aynsley (which describes a lot more of Wray's life than the book does) and contains a lot of photos not provided in the original.

As a 21 year old, in the early 1930s, Johnny was made redundant from the job he never liked in the first place - a casualty of the great depression in New Zealand. He wasn't keen on finding a new job, and fancied going cruising around the tropical islands of the South Pacific in a yacht. Friend Walter, who had a small skiff, was discussing it with Johnny.

“There are, let me see, four-five-six ways of acquiring a suitable boat. You can buy one; you can be given one; you can build one; you can beg, borrow or steal one. Now let's take them in order; You can't buy one - not with £8 10s. - so I think we can rule that one out. You don't know anyone likely to give you one?” “I'm afraid not,” I grinned. “You can count that out.”“Well, what about building one? You once made a canoe out of a sheet of roofing iron, don't forget that. I think you ought to build one.”“You'll have to guess again. I don't know one end of a saw from the other.”“You could learn, you have plenty of time now.”

Ngataki