Australian Yachting.

Auckland Star, Volume XVII, Issue 202, 28 August 1886, Page 8

Australian Yachting.

Yachting and boat sailing have been, and ever will be, popular forms of amusement with Australians. In the first place lovo of the sea is inherent in their nature, and in the next tho natural facilities of access t the water and tho splendid weather wito which this southern land is favoured induce a partiality for aquatic amusements among our youth which tho responsibilities after life can never eradicate. In Port Jackson it is only in the natural order of things that a large proportion of the male population Bhould almost exist afloat during half the year- There is no harbour south of tbe line, except Auckland harbour, where yachting is entered into with so much zest. In Sydney there are peveral of the finest specimens of the modorn yacht afloat. Some hare been imported from England, and others built from plans sent out by celobrated English designers , but—and every success to their enterprising ownors —a number are built by local builders from their own designs. As instances of tho latter description, where are there finer specimens of yachts than the old Magic, the Waitangi, the Wanderer, or the Janet. The Waitangi is a New Zealandsr, and was built by Niccol, of Auckland, whose name is attached to some fine specimens of vessels engaged in the island trade — vessels which might justly bo ranked as yachts. Sydney certainly takes the lead in yachting, but the great drawback has been" a lack of enterprise among our yachting men. Ov. neß of fine yachts like the Magic, Waitangi, Sirocco, Oithona, Sao, and many otherß were quite satisfied with their little c use round tho harbour and an occasional race under pleasure canvas. Then, again, there has beon another drawback. Owners did not know how to accept a defeat. However, th6ro is great promise ol quite a new order of things during the ensuing season. Sereral new yachts have been added to tho fleets of the Royal and the Prince Alfred, and both those clubs seem to bo imbued with the determination to extend the popularity of yachting by every means in ther power. Ono great innoration will be the intercolonial yach-3 rac.s between Sydney and Molbourno yachts. Intercolonial contosta more than any othor means will do away with local jealousies by giving extended scope to our yacht owners and amateur crows. There is no doubt that in a few years intercolonial regattas will bo hold, at which the best yachts of New South Wales, Victoria, Tasmania, and New Zealand will compete, and thus yatching will bocomo essentially Australasian, and ownors will have something to look forward to. By tho way >iow South Welshmen are apt to forget that thare is such a place as New Zealand,possessing fine amateur sailors, aDd a few yachts which are by no meanß to be despised. This applies moro particularly to Auckland and Wellington. In the latter harborr, sailing as a rule, is done in a heavy sea, and a breezo of wind which would raise tho hair off a man's head. It is to bo hoped that the combined Port Jackson and Port Philip Yacht Clubs will see theway clearto send yachts to Auckland to represent these colonies, or induce the Aucklanders to send over tho Rita, Arawa, or Muritai, all firstciass locally built yachts which would prove no mean antagonists.—"Town and Country Journal."