AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 116, 17 May 1924, Page 21

AQUATICS.

I (By SPEEDWELL.. | During the past week we hi. _«n privileged to see the splendid ships comprising the Special Service Squairon at anchor on the harbour, and "the fleet" , lias been the principal topic of eonversai tion, not only among yachtsmen, but j with land-lubbers as well. When the i majority of us were familiar with many iof the dimensions of the mighty Hood • and her escorts through illustrations j and other articles in the Press, yet nothing could bring home to us such a '. real understanding of tho immensity of the great battleship as the first sight lof her as she appeared oil Rangitoto j Heef last Saturday. It was a grey I morning, in keeping with the ship, and it looked as if a smaller edition of Rangitoto bad sprung from the sea overi night. Followed at a respectful distance jby a large fleet of launches and numerI ous steamers all well loaded, the flag- ! ship came out of the mist at a good j speed, and in a few minutes was abreast iof North Head, where she slowed down, land, making a wide sweep to starboard on a hard-a-port helm, she entered tho harbour just as the sun broke through the morning mists. To the thousands of citizens who lined the shores and the many points of vantage overlooking the harbour, the sight of this vait ship. . surrounded by pigmies in the shape of | our pleasure fleet, was one which will linger long in the memory, and all eyes followed her until she was safely berthed at the new wharf, where she overshadowed everything by her greatness. No sooner was the Hoed safely berthed than a rush was aiain made down channel to greet the four ships which formed the second division. On they came in line astern, headed by the Repulse. This time the ilotilla of yachts and launches did not venture so far out, and, turning in good time, they escorted the four cruisers up to their anchorage off the wharves, making a fine sight, which drew a word or two of praise from ViceAdmiral Field when speaking at the reception in his honour. The Admiral said that with such a good harbour and

large fleet of pleasure craft, the number of which surprised them all, we had an excellent training-ground for recruits to the Navy. It certainly was a brave and very orderly show. A number of patrol boats had been appointed duties on either shore, but their duties were a sinecure, for every skipper did his best to keep to the spirit of the request made in this column last week, that for the reputation of the port we should make an orderly dispay. One or two ventured out of bounds, but were back again at the first request of the patrol boats' skipper—at least, this was our pleasmt experience. Naturally, when the ships had come to an anchor and while the Hood was being warped alongside the wharf, many of the launches ventured to get a close-up view, hut they were not in the way. and all hands are to be congratulated on the discipline and order tbey displayed. No doubt when the fleet leave this afternoon there will be another great gathering of craft to bid them good-bye. and we hope the same consideration will be shown. The question of better policy- protection for yachts and launches both ashore and afloat appears likely to receive the attention of the authorities, judging by recent happenings and we will all be very glad to have this assurance. The damage to the cabins of Rawene seems especially callous, the panels and mirrors having been removed in a way very destinetive to the cabin. Owners who sometimes pay a visit to their craft at night may now have to establish their identity to the satisfaction of a police officer, but this is preferable to the state of things which has prevailed for so long. The Victoria Cruising Club will hold their annual distribution of prizes in the Trades' Hall, Hobson Street, on Tuesday. May 27. The gathering will take the form of a social and dance, which this club has carried out so successfully for several years past. The Northcote and Birkenhead committee will hold a social and dance in the Masonic Hall, Northcote, on Saturday, May 31, when the prizes won at the last regatta will be distributed.

Speaking of speed and thrills, the , ; owner and crew of Miss Auckland had a marvellous experience the other week. With a party of five, including one lady, Miss Aucklapd was returning from a run down harbour. There was a fresh westerly breeze and when between Victor a wharf and H.M.c.s. Iris she struck two j jseas which sent her over on her chine I and pitched her skipper, Mr. Les. I White, up against the back seat and 1 finally overboard. The next moment! the mechanic, Ray Beilby, was also ; thrown out. Tho boat, still rig t over I on her side, ran on in a circle, and the next to go overboard were the two male l passengers, leaving only the lady, who was kept in her seat by a mooring line becoming entangled round her tody. !' The lady was holding on bravely but lying put over the water at a dangerous angle. Miss Auckland careered around j again, still at an angle of 4,") degrees, ! anxiously watched by the four men in ! the water who, while concerned for tbe lady's safety, were highly amused at the antics of the boat. The little speedster now suddenly righted herself, and still going at top speed made straight for the four men, who immediately prepared to dive. When barely 100 yards away and still heading for the men, the motor suddenly stopped, the boat's momentum being just sufficient to carry her rig.it up to and alongside of her crew. Needless to say they lost no time in gcttiiu aboard, only having a few strokes to swim to reach her. Looking for th« - possible cause of the providential stop page of the motor, it was found that some water had cot on to the magnet, wires. By this time, there were one ov two boats near which had come as close as they dared while the boat was circling round at about .0 miles per hour. The first question from the would-be-rescuer* was to ascertain if the whole thing wai ' a "movie stunt" but unfortunatelj ' there was no camera handy to record the wonderful sight of a boat circling round at a 30-mile clip with a lady hang ing over the side with her hands and hair waving in the wind. From one o. these onlookers a handkerchief was bor rowed and the magneto points wiped dry, after which 6he started on th_ first swing and completed her interrupter journey to her moorings without furtliei mishap.

Arrangements are in hand for the j fifty-second annual prize night of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron , which will be held in the club rooms on ! Tuesday, June 10. His Excellency, j the Governor-General and Viscountess Jellicoe will be present and as this will be the last occasion on which the Squadron will have the pleasure of entertaining their Excellencies before they leave New Zealand, the gathering will he in the nature of a farewell. Sir Thomas Lipton is quite as determined as ever to try and win the American Cup and his latest challenge will be Shamrock V. The contest will be held in August or September, 1925. The veteran yachtsman's latest joke is that Americans should not want the cup now as they cannot put anything pn it. Another good story is to tiie effect that a lady wrote to him saying she believed the Americans put something in the water to make their yachts go fast. "And I told her," said Sir Thomas, "That she was right. They put Reliance in." Speaking of the cup, he said, "It lias been away from us for seventy years and it would do it 'good to get back if only for a few weeks." As a possible result of tbe especially fine summer we have experienced, there is quite a fair demand for pleasure craft, many looking for bargains at this sea son. The various building establishments are fairly busy, one or two new craft being on the stocks at each yard. A recent addition to the launch fleet is a 34 ft by Oft by 2ft 6in V-bottom cruiser built by Col. Wild of Stanley Bay to the order of Mr. W. Rapley of Devonport. This boat has a distinctly smart appearance with her light blue topsides and blight varnished coambings. Her main cabin is lift, cockpit 7ft, with a wheel house amidships, under which the 35 h.p. Kermath is housed. This launch is well fitted below and can accommodate eight persons comfortably. The same builder has underway a 30ft by 7ft (iin by 4ft Oin keel vaeht for Mr. J. E. L. Cull of Wellington" late owner of Kotiri. She will carry the triangular mainsail and be very snugly! rigged, in keeping with most of the : Wellington yachts. She is being built to a design published in an English yachting magazine and is a very shapely j little ship. * j