AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXIX, Issue 148, 25 June 1898, Page 2 (Supplement)

AQUATICS.

The English yachting season has noAV fairly started. Already a number of races among the. smaller craft have been sailed, and the regattas are noAV beginning. According to a late file the German Emperor's cutter Meteor is being rapidly prepared for commission. 11.1.M. evidently menus business.

American yachting is practically at a standstill, OAVing to the Avar. At any rate, nothing of any importance in the sport is uoav being attempted. English creAvs that Avere enguged for Yankee yachts are not now required. War is fraught with hardships. The Germans seem to be making rapid strides in yachting, but this is scarcely to be ' Avondered at since I-1.'1.M. sets the fashion. Tavo neAv 65----footers are building in England for Teuton oAvners, and many new craft are in course of construction in local yards, of which three are to compete for a prize of £500 offered by the Norddeutscher Regatta, Verein, for boats built in Germany. One condition of this race is that the wind must be blowing, at not less than a given

force, so as to prevent the contingency of a drifting match.

More than ordinary interest, it is stated, at the Riviera (Mediterranean) regattas was centred in the 20-tonners, caused by the series of International matches for the Coupe de France, between Gloria (the challenger) and the defender (Estorel). The latter yacht has since been purchased by Baron Edward de Rothschild. The. English boat Gloria was the first of the 20----ton fleet to make a public appearance, which she did as early as February 0 at Marseilles Regatta, and sailed well. The match for the North Sea Cup was to have been started from Dover on Saturday last, just two days before the race for the German Emperor's Cup. The cup, which is the gift of Mr H. Gordon Hodgkinson, is for yachts of 50 tons and under (Thames measurement) belonging to any Royal or recognised yacht cjub, built in the United Kingdom, and owned by a British subject.