YACHTING OPENING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 262, 9 November 1906, Page 5

YACHTING OPENING.

The yachting season was opened this morning: About 30 motor launches of the New Zealand Power Boat Association assembled to the east of the Railway wharf where they lormed up in line astern and proceeded up the harbour, headed by the flagship Matareka, with the commodore, Mr. W. S. Whitley, on board. The launches all carried red ensigns and presented a very pretty sight. After passing the wharf the boats rounded one of the bulks and came down the harbour in double line astern, returning in bunched order. They passed down to the Railway again, where formed up into lines of four-and five abreast. Off the Queen-street wharf the Matareka dropped her, anchor, and after the other boats had saluted the commodore the manoeuvres ; concluded. The display of the sailing, : clubs fell short of expectations. I'He squadron manoeuvres were carried out by ten sailing boats, accompanied by four or five launches. The boats sailed up and down the harbour in single line astern in front of the wharf, and, after standing over towards Shoal Bay finished the display by saluting the commodore, Mr. C. P. Murdoch, who conducted the manoeuvres from his yacht Ida. The Ponsonby and North Shore clubs opened the season independently of the squadron, a few of their boats subsequently joining in with the premier club. Just as the squadron display had concluded a large number of boats came down from Ponsonby, bringing the total number of yachts up to 30. The fleet then passed the wharf on its way to the cruising grounds. A number of the boats are bound for the squadron's grounds at Mateatea Bay, where it is proposed to start a race to Kawau to-morrow. Most of the launches went away for a short cruise.