Yachting

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 109, 4 November 1939, Page 22

Yachting

HEALTHY RIVALRY

ROYAL PORT NICHOLSON PROSPECTS

Club trials for the T-cla'ss occupied most of the interest in the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club last week. There was relatively little between all six entrants,. and the top four, Manon,' Elaine. Toroa, and Unique, proved to be. about equal, giving the committee a headache over selection. Whichever way it went one boat had to be unlucky and. Toroa. was the unfortunate one, although she had given the most consistent performance in the three races. 'There has been a great improvement iskilful working of the slack water in in the standard of upkeep and finish the channel Twink made a • clean of boats recently, extending from the break and was never headed. ' She Idle Alongs right through the club's finished nearly two minutes ahead of fleet up to the keel yachts. In some Marie, with Robin well back third. is steadily nroeressine- selected oriein the followmg crew:—W. Cornn, J, allf I fa V ?e rsfur s Sfde Sefor tetLfgSi T^^^****** *** °' and used for the tops of deck-houses, Flsher (flfth man)it has crept over decks and is now W. Corrin is the well-known former invading the field of top sides. Wai- owner of the. crack 14-footer Lois.

rere 11. has. carried, a subdued shade of green for several seasons, and now Miro has blossomed out with a green that is anything but subdued. Opinions are somewhat divided, but the general reaction is favourable and the traditional white for yachts is steadily losing ground.

The commodore's yacht, Kotuku, has sprouted another mast in the winter, and appears now as a full-grown ketch, presumably in preparation for another crack at Arthur Holmes's Vagabond. Last year's race was interesting, but unfortunately the contestants followed different courses, and the stake-holders liquidated the trophy. (

With the best fleet since pre-war days (last war) the prospects for the season are very bright, although crew trouble is already apparent, as members are being called up. The older hands are coming forward to, fill the gaps, and it is fully expected that the full programme will be carried out in spite of difficulties.