PREFACE TO FIRST EDITION xxi 



mishap experienced during my voyages occurred 

 off Cape Guardafui, in 1903, when a sudden whirl- 

 wind snapped the jibboom, hurling it into the air 

 like a straw. 



" Valhalla " was the first ship to be fitted with 

 the " Brougham patent electrical steering-gear," 

 an invention which makes steering possible from 

 any part of the ship. In 1905 she took part in 

 the famous yacht race for the German Emperor's 

 Cup, from Sandy Hook to the Lizard, and, although 

 by far the largest yacht, she came in an easy 

 third. 



The accommodation on board is palatial 

 most ample " headroom," large cabins, and 

 electric light throughout. The freezing room is 

 capable of carrying many tons of meat, sufficient 

 for a very long cruise. The total number of 

 crew carried, including officers, engineers, and 

 stewards, was about sixty-five. Indeed, under 

 any consideration, a better or more beautiful 

 yacht could not be imagined. 



FIRST VOYAGE. 



DURING the first voyage our party consisted of 

 Lord Crawford, Major L. B. Wilbraham, Dr. 

 W. B. Macdonald, and myself. We left Cowes 

 on 19th November, 1902, on a voyage which 

 lasted rather more than eight months, and during 

 this time 38,000 miles were covered. 



After calling for coal at Lisbon, Madeira, the 



