AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume XLI, Issue 284, 30 November 1910, Page 7

AQUATICS.

Two new clinker lours for the- Waiiematii Clirb are expected to arrive from Edward's, of Melbourne, to-inoxrow. One of the boats is for -racing, and the other ■for practice. The Waitemata Club's two maiden crews dor the forthcoming regattas will Ibe picked on Saturday next. One of the proposals arising out of the conference between the Association and Chub captains and secretaries, held on Monday naght last, is that the duibs should send their winning crews to "Wanganui to compete in this season's championship regatta- The suggestion ia a good, one, and it is to be hoped the clubs will 'be alble to see ibeir -way clear to carry it throDgh. It -was in this way that IJhe Waitemata crew came into prominence, end win or lose, there is no gainsaying the fact that a crew must profit materially by getting amongst good company. The Auckland dub ihas already decided to send crews to the regatta on its own initiative, and I understand that there is growing sympathy iwifch the idea amongrt the other clubs, though so far nothing definite has been placed before them. Should the clubs act on the suggestion, Auckland ■will have a splendid representation at the rega-tta, as our oarsmen should be competent to compete with fair expectations of success in most, if not aIL, the championship events. A conference between the Auckland Rowing Association Committee and the captains and secretaries of the -clubs was held on Monday night last to discuea the question of holding a gala. It was decided to hold the function on January 21 at the St. George's Club's boathouae, Judge's Bay. Each club will row for its own tropMes, and the respective winners will compete in. the final for trophies presented iby the Association. A band will be in attendance, and afternoon tea will be provided; in fact, it will be an "At Home" on a. large scale. The Ngaruawahia Olub has decided to enter its senior crew for the champion fours at the New Zealand regatta. The Auckland Rowing Club's third tral fours of the season for trophies ■presented by club members will be held on Saturday, the 10th. December. Entries will close with the secretary at the boathouse on Saturday evening next. Mr. E. W. G. EatWbone has accepted the position of commodore of .the St. George's Rowing Club. Sculling trials for the Cfeorge Cup (presented by the Hon. Seymour ThomeGfeorge) will ibe commenced on Saturday afternoon next. A large number of entries have been received, and it is expected that the triads will take about three weeks to complete. The preliminary heats only will be decided on Saturday. G. B. Stone, champion amateur sculler of New Zealand, is in training to defend the title a.t Wanganui. There is also reason to hope that Stone and Harper will again compete in the Champion double sculls. The St George's Rowing Club's next trial fours =wfll be held on Saturday, December 3, for the Rowsell Cup. Entries close next Saturday. The possibility of an inter-provincial eight-oar championship race being placed on the New Zealand regatta programme is being vigorously discussed in local ■rowing circles, and a suggestion has been thrown out that Ngaruawahia. and, say, "Waitemata, should combine to get together a crew to represent Aackland in this event. That the race would help to create a 'healthy rivalry among the rowing centres of the Dominion is an important point in its favour, tout the real undErlying reason for the wi&h that the race should Ibe promoted is, from <what one hears locally, that it may leaf up to a champion New Zealand crew being sent to Australia to compete an the inter-State eight. It is easy to realise that the race would soon become one of sopremest importance, surpassing even the champion fours, and it is therefore to ibe 'hoped that no effort -will be spared to have it .placed on the programme as early as possible. The Mercer Regatta Committee has definitely decided to hold a regatta at Mercer on January 30, and the train arrangements have already been made. The programme arranged consista-of 16event3, including nine rowing races. The latter cover all classes, and the principal event is the eingle sculls for the Marshall Cup. The crews chosen to represent the St. George's Club at the forthcoming regattas liave commenced training. They are as follows: —light-weight maidens, F. R. CGorman (stroke), C Cozens 3, H. J. Riley 2, R. Pycroft bowi heavyweight maidens, A. Lin-ton (stroke), C. Carr 3, A. Spencer 2, F. G. Atpe bow. The light-weight maiden, crew are expected to reader a good account of themselves, though present indicatdone are that they will require to devote more attention to training and coaching. The programme for the Ngaruawahia annual regatta, to be held on March 17 lias already been drafted and approved. It includes an, exceptional number of races for all classes of oarsmen. It is pleasing to note the interest yachtsmen are taking in races, although it means a lot of hard work and late hours in getting their yachts up to racing pitch. But there is nothing like racing to bring out the best points of the crews, as it requires a great deal of skill and seamanship. Even if one does not win, a little more experience is gained, which will come in handy some time or other. Many of the crews are already mapping off the course for the Christmas cruise. The Bay of Islands seems to be the favoured waters again this season. One could sail a long way before coming to a watering-place to beat it, with its beautiful bays and coves and numerous islands and its great variety of fish. The fresh sea breeze during the day and the cool land breeze at night make this spot an ideal yachtsmen's paradise. Some of the yachts had rather an anxious time during the heavy thunderstorm that swept over the waters of the Gulf early on Sunday afternoon. Most of them were still at anchor, it being a little too early for the homewaTd trip. The second anchor was soon run out, which enabled them to ride it out in perfect safety. Those that weTe under weigh close reefed their canvas, and came through it none the worse for their experience. Next Saturday the Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron hold the first cruising race and power-boat cruising race.