AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 288, 2 December 1905, Page 12

AQUATICS.

The Eoyal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, opened its racing season this afternoon; when class race*,,vrer^held. A correspondent asks ndw'loiig it is since George Towns: went to England, if he. ever met. Stan bury in England, and iT he rowed him. for the championship of England at any time. Towns went to England in 1901. The answer to the other questions is no.

The Home Bay Sailing Club opened their season's racing with a general handicap race for classes 1, 2 and 3, and a special race for class 5, open sailing boats," on Saturday afternoon last. Mr W. A. Reed acted as officer for the day, and performed the duties of starter and judge in a very efficient manner. The wind was a trifle strong for the open boats , , but a splendid racing breeze for the competing yachts, some carrying single reefs. The following are the parr ticulars:. In the. general handicap race Valdora won on. time allowance by lmin 20sec. Her handicap was 9min. She annexes the trophy presented by Mr C. J. Parr. Gladys takes the second prize, presented by Mr E. de Courey, and Wareho the third prize, presented by Mr A. Deacon. Anona (time allowance 1 mm) won the open boat race and Commodore Palmer's trophy, and the second boat, Norma (handicap 6m), secured the trophy presented by Mr E. A. Rule.

After the manoeuvres on Saturday afternoon the boats of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron went to Waiheke, the majority of them dropping Iheir anchors in Station Bay. There were about twelve boats here, including the Thelma. The flagship Ida went into Mateatea, and was accompanied by the yachts Moana, Thistle, Windward, and Glorianna, and the launches Rahutai and Matareka. The weather was very rough and on the return journey the boats got a bad ""dusting."

A 32ft surf launch for Mr Bennett, of Napier, was shippid by Messrs Bailey and Lowe during the week.

Last week Messrs Bailey and Lowe launched a 32ft pleasure launch, fitted with a 10 h.p. engine for Mr A. Sandford.

Messrs Bailey and Lowe are building a 32ft launch for a pentleman at Waiheke, and a 30ft launch for the Hawke's Bay district.

The Fonsonby annual regatta takes place next Saturday.

Ariki, Eulalie, Huia, Eileen and Bona were at Deep Creek, and Moana went to Owhanake, for the week-end cruise.

The Rangatira's crew were in hopes of getting their boat ready again to go out to-day. It will be remembered that this boat fouled the steamer Iris last Saturday, and carried away some of her rigging.

On Sunday morning the weather was anything but promising, but towards afternoon the wind went round to the south, and the Waiheke boats had almost a lead home.

On Saturday afternoon Essie and Kotare had a cruising race to Drunken Bay in the Victoria Cruising Club's races, Essie allowing Kotare lOmin. Spinnakers were set immediately after the start, and Essie began to gain, but she did not seem to be so well handle as her rival, and Kotare eventually won after a good race.

Preparations are being made' for Ponsonby Annual Begatta; yachtsmen are busy stretching new sails and getting their gear into order. Several, yachtsmen who ordered sails from * America arc disappointed at the non-arrival of the same.

Mr C. Henning, the well-known Fiji yachtsman, is expected to arrive in Auckland by the Navua leaving Suva next week. I understand it is Mr Henning's intention to cruise in local waters with his yacht Volunteer, which he purchased from Mr Alex. Alison, before taking her to Fiji.

The keel of Mr C. Henning's new schooner-yacht was laid this week by the builder, Mr C. aßiley, junr. The vcss?l will be completed about the eno of January next.

Captain Flemming's new 25ft launch was launched to-day. The vessel, which was built by Mr C. Bailey, junr., is fitted with a 4 h.p engine.

Mr C. Bailey, junr., ia building a 25ft launch for a gentleman at Paeroa.

The Royal New Zealand, Yacht Squadron held a v°ry successful opening day last Saturday. The boa's wenl through a serits of evolutions off the Queen-st. wharf, the proceedings bein? directed by the commodore. Mr (J. P. Murdoch. The patron of the club, His Excellency the Governor, Lord Plunke., took part in the function, .being on board the launch Rehutai.

The "Royale" display last Saturday practically marked the opening of the yachting season in Auckland. The West End Association opened their season a few weeks ago, but as no official opning day is recognised by the clubs the nearest approacti to it is Ihe function carried out by the senior club. At the present time thi? "Royals" fix a date and then ask outside cluba to join with them in a combined display, but this is not at all satisfactory, as from experience 1 have found that few clubs avail themselves of the invitation. Whatever the reason it is not my wisn to discuss this phase of the question here, but I certainly think that delegates of all the clubs should be got together on an equal footing and then a general display could be ' arranged. Auckland is an important yachting centre, and it is a metier for regret that the clubs do not afford the .public an opportunity of seeing for themselves the great extent to which yachting has developed in recent years. The regattas give thorn some idea, but they are not to be compared to a combined display of all the .clubs.

I was pleased to see that the New Zealand Power Boat Association took part in the "Royals" opening function, for it was an evidence of good ieeling between the two clubs. The launch dub, by the way, has now a big membership, and as launching is becoming more popular every season there is reason to believe that it will rapidly improve its position. Mr. R. P. Houston, who will, it is said, issue the next challenge for a race for the America Cup, is a Liverpool shipowner, and member of Parliament. The son of a civil engineer, he served a Inborious apprenticeship as engineer and ship-builder, while studying at the same time undpr a private tutor. When only 21 he had qualified himself for the position of superintendent engineer of an Atlantic -steamship line. Entering thp world of commerce, liis piofjrwss in wealth was as rnpirl as his ability to master his craft, and;in.a few yeaVs l«e had built tip for himself a great position at Liverpool. Should his challenge for the Cup next year have a successful resuhlt .the good opinions which he won during the Boej , war as nn organiser of transports .will .no doubt help to increase the popularity of his triumph. -Mr. Houston ,is of Scottish ancestry. He was -born in -Liverpool years .ago.

Splendid entries have been received by the Ponsonby Regatta Clubf«r tfe* various events on-their prpgiramme, 'with such large fields the spectators will witness some very fast and keen racing. No less than 13 entries have been received for the f Motoi k CruisingRace, and the committee have decided to alter the time oi starting that particular race to three o'clock, so as to enable some of the boats, to prepare for the speed race. The official numbers for yachts,and motor launches can be procured from Messrs Jagger and Harvey, price 1/6.