AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 77, 30 March 1920, Page 8

AQUATICS.

ißy SPEEDWELL.; The weather on Saturday und Sunday was the worst we have toad this year, a bard sou'-eastcr blowing, which kicked up a Pig *ea ln the -harbour and niifi worse still in the outer harbour and gulf. "Very few pleasure craft were underway on Saturday, although Sunday saw a -few down harbour, while a-bout twenty 'boats visited- tile upper reaches, including 'Pine Island, Albany and Riverhead. It is to the credit of the sailing men that »they ventured the ifurtbest to windward 'in the really hard -breeze. Five of our white-winged lleet, with two reefs down and staysail and storm jib on, thrashed their way to Maliatla during tbe afternoon, where tbey lay overnight -.vith two, anchors down. There was a nasty sea ln the -Motutapu passage and off Crusoe, the eo-h tide making matters worse, nnd tbe majority arrived at tbe bay well drenched. The heavy squalls I which came over the hills during the night

laid some of the boats down to their mil with the force of wind on the mast and rig'giug. and anchor watch was kept all night on more than one boat. lorungi, ilex. Moaua, Ladye Wiiuiu ami Ngatlra were the five boats, aud their skippers and crew are to be congratulated ou the seamanship shown in -mustering the elements under such adverse conditions. The run home on -Sunday was done in quick time. Si far ns we know, none of the powerdriven fleet got as far us Waihekc, although several were down harbour on Sunday. The hard .s.ui'-easter was responsible for ■ ihe complete loss oi a line HSft by 101't auxiliary yacht owned by Mr. Annandale, of Wuiheke. This 'bout, which was built by Burgess five years ago for her owner, who lives about half-way between Rocky und Awuroa Bays, was well found, and had over two tons of lead ballast besides her ■ engine. She was moored in Ilothnm's Buy. which is quite open to the south, nud she came ashore al high water on Saturday night, on the rocks a: the western end of the bay. The ballast and fittings were removed on Sunday, and the remains of the hull hauled above lilc'.i water mark. It is very questionable if the boat can be repaired. A small yacht owned by Mr. .'.. C. Sped- i 'i:i: got iiwav from her mooring" ln Arran 1 Bur. hns was secured by Mr. W. Connell. ' and rowed to a safe anchorage. In common wilh the cost ot living, the . irlaes Is nira rising and there Is every prospect o. line weather for Easter. The majority of our pleasure fleet will leave town on Thursday evening and, with northerly weather, many will go to Coromandel. the larger bonis going out to the Barrier und Mercury Island. Kawau will be the chief rendezvous it the wind is westerly, and ln any case the splendid harbour or Bon Accord will be well filled with power boats of all descriptions as well as yachts. .Mavis will visit Te Aroha during the four days, and may be joined by one or two more, especially if the henzlnp situation •becomes less acute by the arrival of the Lorrain: if not, the majority of oil burners will hay be content with Waihekc. v.'uich. after all. lakes some heating. There were no fixtures last Saturday, the race for 14-fo..ters being iiokii.ou.ml till after Easter. On Saturday. Apill H>. the combined ilr.nl cruise of the season will l>e held, all clubs taking part. This day has also been named !"•>.' tbe vi-.it ••!' the Mnuukau yachtsmen lo Ihe Wai I.'main. The visitors will I." taken io tbe destination chosen for ihe Face, and a smoke concert held ashore ..n Saturday night. Final arrangements wiil he made at a meeting oi il-'l.'gates to the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, held to-morrow ev.-uinr. Not only are all local boat owners showing a keen Interest in the arrangements for a big display on the occasion of the in rival of 11.M.5. Renown and His Royal Highness, but owners of pleasure boats from adjacent pons are anxious to take p-u-i. Some may be deterred by a shortage of fuel, and for such the Association has a plan w hereby a limited supply can be assured .-I'll owner lor Hint occasion only, of which fuller dctnlls will he published late;-. Mr. At hoi Hodgson, of I'onsonby. has purchased the 14 foot oiie-destgner Betty from Mr. W. Bailey, jun.. of Stanley Bay. and takes possession for Easter. Betty won the championship for ber class this season, and her purchase price wa.s £110. This seems a r.lg price for a 14-footer. but it goes to prove that it pays to have n boat built by a reputable builder, for while the first cost Is high, once built they are always worth tlwlr cost. Her former owner will build another 14-footer in time for next season. Edgar Swinnerton will also have a 1 I-footer limn for next season, after disposing of Oln 11.. and we quite expect to see seven or eight boats racing next year. The veteran skinner. Mr. Tom Haudersnn. has already stilled C2T, miles this sensou in his HU-footer While Wings, and hopes to reach lliuil miles before hauling It is tn be hoped that ll certain representative of "the Navy" will have as much luck keeping clear of snags, sunken logs, and sundry other "spots" In the Thames Klver at Easter as he had with German !mines in the North Sen. j The following corrections have been made in the published results of the I'onsonby I regatta : -Ki-footcrs' race: Sea I'rchln first prize. Mistral second, and Atangatai third: '14-footers. Ola 11. lirst. Tuatca second, and J Whiz Bang third. Tuaten also wins the £" 2 / special prl/.e given by the Yacht nnd Motor Boat Association for the boat sailed I entirely by youths under 10. ; Mr. R. Taylor, of Borkenhead. has Just returned from a ten days' cruise In Sterling Ctrl. Mr. XX. i.'urrie and Mr. .las. Iteld, of Northcote, formed the crew. Mr. Reld is building a -ln-foot schooner for his own use at Northcote. nnd will have her ready, for next senson. We predict more power-boat men going back to sail if tbe present high price of fuel continues. A revival of yacht building in Auckland would be a great event, and in that case we may see a race for Lord Islington's six-metre prize. Tbe racess for the America Cup will take place off Snndv Hook. New York, on July lv, 17, 21!. and 24. or until one of the two yachts wins three races. The Royal Ulster Yacht Club will be represented by Sir Thomas I.ipton's Shamrock IV., which has been hauled out at Brooklyn since the outbreak of war. Shamrock has been re-launched, nnd is now being overhauled, and fitted out for the contest, the U-'t-metre Shamrock being sent across ns a 'trial boat. It is pretty certain that the American defender will be the Hcrresl>off sloop Resolute, although Vanitle made a fair showing at times, easily beating the third trial boat. Defiance. Sir Thomaa carries the best wishes of all British ynchtsmen in ills coming attempt to win this much-coveted trophy, nnd New Zealand Lvachtsmen are not one whit behind them fin wishing the plucky baronet Kla Ora ! with his fourth green challenger.