AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 28 August 1886, Page 4

AQUATICS.

The meeting of rowing club representatives held at the United Service Hotel this week was of a most enthusiastic and satisfactory character, and therefore in material contract to any similar gathering that has taken place for some timo. As will be seen from the report of the meeting published in the Star, thero was a determination expressed to make a special effort during tho present season to eneourago rowing, whether assisted by tho Flowing Association or not, and if the latter be really " alive," as Mr BurgeEa insisted, it will evidently havo to show more activity than in the past, or el'o those who would, in that case, bo its ardont supporters, will supplant it by some othor institution, which will represent all tho rowing clubs and tbe Canoe Club. The determination to have a procession of boats to open the sea-son is deserving ot praise, and now that the matter haa been taken up with so much spirit it is to be hoped that it will be carried out to a successful issue and not bo allowed to fall through, as has been the case of late years.

The groat event of the yachting world comes off during tho next fortnight in America. We refer to the races for the America's Cup. tho first of which takes place next Wednesday. The English representative is tho Galatea, a 90 ton cutter, owned by Lieut Henn. Her dimensions are : Length 100 ft, beam loft, depth of hold 13ft 3in, depth of water 13ft Gin, and is 90 tons yacht measurement. She is built of Bteel and carries her ballast in a hollow keel.

News has not beon received as yet as to which of the Yankeo yachts will contest tho cup, as they Lave the right to withhold the name of thoir representative until tho morning of tho taco. The 000 chosen, howover, will be from the Priscilla, Atlantic and Puritan. Thero are to be three races, tho best two out of tho three to win. The first race will bo over tho New York Yacht Club's course (as sailed by the Genesta last year); the second over a triangular course, from Sandy Hook light vessel ; and the third to bo either to windward or to leeward, and return either from tho point of the Hook, or from Sandy Hook light vessel. The length of course is to be aa nearly as possible 40 statute miles, and each raco must be finished in seven hours.

Berlin crew visited England last month to compete for the Grand Challenge Cup at the Royal Henley Regatta. Their rowing was of an inferior order, the strok-j never being faster than 35 They did not even «in a heat.

Somo of the American yachts intend visiting Cowea at the end of the present ssason, and tbe Irex will then have an opportunity of testing their speed.

it seems likely (says " Land and Water ") that either the Priscilla or Puritan will be chosen to protect the interests of the holders of the America's Cup, as both have beaten the new sloops, Atlantic and Mayflower. The iron boat has bested the Puritian to the extent of winning two out of threo matches, and it would appear that Priscilla is the bettor in a breeze, and Puritan the lightwind ghost. If Galatea should be favoured with a smart lower sail breeze, either one or tho other of the Yankees will have to move fast to get out of her way. A leading New York Bporting journal of a few days ago says :-" If Teenier had not broken down or hia right arm become useless, owing to an overstrain, and he had pressed Gaudaur,the fastest time on record for the distance would have been beaten, and Gaudaur would have rowed the throo miles and turn in 19min 27sec,the time ho made in his trial on Juno 10, two days before the race. Gaudaur'o time is a danger light for any champion, and it is doubtful whether there is a man in tho world who could equal, let alone beat, the performance. Time is no criterion of oarsmanship, wo aro well aware ; but it must be acknowledged, when a man rows a trial on a river or lako in 19min 27sec, that he can repeat the feat within lOsec any time in smooth water, so that by this theory Gaudaur is a worthy candidate to back against Beach or anybody else."

Tho following is from late American exchanges :—Whoever supposed that Georgo Leo would outrow Edward Hanlan ? He did so at tho Hanlan regatta in Toronto, Can ,on June S. Hanlan cannot be possibly in racing form to allow Lee to dash his sholl in ahead, ospocia'ly ou tho waters of Toronto Bay, where Hanlan first gained hia oarsmanship schooling. Hanlan's defeat was probably owing to tho fact that Hanlan, had the. management of the regatta, or else that lie did not desire to win the prize ho was offering to bo competed for. Leo not only finished ahead of Hanlan, but Georgo H. Hosmer. Banian's defeat by Lee will be the topic of discussion, not only in Pittfburg, the home of the present champion, Teemer, "but in England end the colonies. If it had been Hosmer first, instead of Lee, it would not have been Buppoeed that thore waa either a screw loose or Hanlan's championship form was a thing of tho past.