LAUNCH OF A YACHT.

Auckland Star, Volume X, Issue 2984, 7 November 1879, Page 2

LAUNCH OF A YACHT.

The steady approach of our annual aquitic festival has caused quite a revival inyacnting matters, and considerable preparations are being made by the owners o£ boata for the various contests in which they intei.d to engage. This interest has also given an impetus to the boatbuilding trade, and there are many orders now in the hands of our local builders for uleasure boat 3. A number of small rowing and sailing craft havo also been launched recently, and there have also b.en one or two yachts of respectable size, principally for the s'x-ton race. One o£ the latter cla33 was launched to-day, from the yard of Mcssr3 Hewson and Melville, Wynyard Pier, and during the day she was inspected by many persons, and universally admired. Sho is a naif-decked cutter riggedyacht ot 5J tons, and measures 25 feet 6 inches on the keel 7 feet 11 inches beam, and 3 feet 6 inches depth of hold. S-he is built on a very pretty model, and her general appearance betokets speed. Her lines are very graceful, tnd she has a sharp entrance and good delivery. Ail her fastenings aro copper, and th<_ fixings are all of the same metal. She will have a bros 3 centre-board, which has been cast by Mr Stevens, of the Lock Ironworks. All the brass work has also been supplied by that gentleman. The yacht will cany a very large spread of canvas, her masts and spars being Jong and tapering, Thn little craft, which hai been built to the older of Mr FeatliTitone of the North Shore, was christened the "Olancc." Before concluding wo may state that tho open boat jßjert which contested several races last year, was built by Mr Hewson, one of the firm which Las launched tho presen-. boat. Messrs. Hewson and Melville are to bo congratulate J on tho manner in which they havo complolcd their present contract, the Glance being in every way a most creditable aennisition to our fleet of pleasure yachts. There can bB but little doubt that she will hold a good position in the race for which file will be entered at the forthcoming regatta, and for -which sho is already a favourite amongst many of our iocal yachtsmen.