AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXX, Issue 196, 19 August 1899, Page 4 (Supplement)

AQUATICS.

The thirty-six-footer yacht which Mr Charles Bailey, junr., is building for a Sydney yachtsman is now well under way, the framing being completed and part of the planking put on. I had an opportunity of looking over the craft during the week. She is certainly one of the handsomest and best designed boats which Mr Bailey has yet turned out. Her length is about fifty feet, beam nine feet, and draught seven feet, and she is built on the frame principle. The framing' is of pohutakawa and the planking of one and a half inch kauri in full lengths. The lines are very fine and the curves exceedingly shapely, there being nothing' to catch the water. There can be no doubt but that she will be possessed of great speed, and all who have seen her agree that it will take a very East boat to beat her. Although very fine she is full enough forward to beat well, and is sufficiently powerful to sail well in any breeze. She is to/be finished about the middle of October, and will be given a trial in the Auckland harbour before leaving for her future home.

The" Sydney "Referee" prints the following as the ixfiG conference definition of an amateur oarsman (Australian): —"An amateur oarsman or scidler is: 1. Anyone who has never entered for a race advertised as for 'watermen.' 2. Anyone who has never competed in any competition for a 'stake,' 'money,' or 'entrance fee' in any branch of: athletics. 3. Anyone who has never earned, or partially earned, his living by rowing, or taken money, either directly or indirectly, in recognition of his skill in rowing. 4. Anyone who has never taught, pursued, or assisted in athletic exercises of any kind as a means of livelihood.

5. Anyone who has not been employed in or about boats for money or wages. 6. Anyone who has never competed in a boat race in connection with which a wager or bet is recognised. 7. Anyone who is not disqualified as an amateur in any other branch of athletic sport. 8. Anyone who is not or has not been within a period of three years a bookmaker."

An Australian paper says: "The purchase by Earl Beauchamp, the Governor of New South Wales, of Mr Cockshott's 2A rater Bronzewing will give the sport a much-needed lift in the mother colony. It is a long time since the yachtsmen there have had a Governor who took a practical interest in yachting, though members of the various staffs have taken a prominent part in the pastime, notably Colonel Gascoigne, A.D.C. to Lord Carrington, who presented a cup to be raced for many year,s ago, and which is not finally won.yet. In view of the fact that there has been a good deal of talk lately about renewing the contests for the Intercolonial Challenge Cup, hely by Sydney, it is to be regretted that His Excellency had not procured a more iip-to-date boat of a larger size, one that would be able to uphold the honour of the colony on an outside course. The Bronzewing was designed and built by Mr G. L. Watson on the Clyde for Mr S. Hordern in 1802. She is lug-rigged, 25ft 1.w.1, draught about 7ft, and has a reputation as a wind-jammer."

The yacht race from Dover to Heligoland for the German Emperor's Cup was started from Dover on June 19, and was competed for by 13 yachts. Ryrnhild, a new 153 ton yawl, which started at scratch, was the first to arrive at Heligoland, Charmian, schooner, 175 tons, comingl in second, and the schooner Amphitrite, 161 tons, third, all three within two hours of each other, Charmian won the cup

on time, and Betty, cutter, 92 tons, took second prize. The North Sea Cup race, over the same course, was won by Dianthus, which saved her time on Inyoni.

News from England stales that on June 24 Mr James Coats, jun.'s, magniflcent new schooner yacht Gleniirer was got undenvcigh on The Clyde ior the first time, and in a. breeze than now and again laid the 52-footers down to the rail, GlenifEer did not so much aa put her deck oil" the dead ' level. Notwithstanding this fact, she moved through the water very quickly. Opening Holy Loch, she began to reach along- much faster, when suddenly her stout jibboom snapped off by the bowsprit-end cranse, and a timely shake-up only just saved the foretopmast from going over the side also. Gleniffer is 472 tons, and carries a sail spread of about 13.000 square feet, her mainmast alone being some 110 feet in length. She is described as being the schooner of the century. Her appearance on the date mentioned'lent additional interest and importance to the regatta of the E. Clyde Y.C. The latest bulletin in connection i with Sir' Thomas Lipton's challenge for the America Cup is, it is stated on what is believed to be good authority. that the gallant Lipton intends to charter a very large ocean-going | steamer, in which he and a large num- ! her of friends will proceed to America I to witness the Cup matches. The success of the German Em- ! peror's yacht Meteor over the Britannia conclusively proves (says a con- ; temporary) that the latter made but : a poor trial boat to the new challenger for the America Cup, and how much more satisfactory it would have been, failing Valkyrie ITT., had Shamj rock raced Meteor instead of Britanj ma. The result of the race cabled us, !in which Meteor, after conceding Britannia, no less (ban lOmin, boat her goes to show how much better matched would Shamrock and Meteor have been.