AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume 55, Issue 152, 28 June 1924, Page 21

AQUATICS.

(By "SPEEDWELL.' , )

We may fairly claim to be in the : off season and boat owners and club j officials have a little respite from the I usual week-end racing or cruising, with j the attendant work of keeping the boat I up to the mark, handicapping, tiinci keeping, and the other details of a sea- [ son in full swing. ".Speedwell" always ; held the opinion that this break of a few I months makes a real yachtsman all the I keener to take up the work of another [ season when the time conies for scraping. J painting, etc. Quite a number of boats . change hands in the winter, and this I year has been no exception. Again, a few wise ones who have made up their minds to build, generally benefit: both in pocket and in the assurance that a boat ordered at this time of the year is certainly not so liable to be put afloat too late for opening day or finished off hurriedly, as some have to be, whose prospective owners put off giving the order until the last minute It is pleasing to note that our boat builders have quite a number of orders in hand, and many genuine prospects, so thai next season should not lack for newcomers. No one particular class is receiving special favour, as the ortlers seem to be distributed from tlu> Urooter to tlie -40-footer It is hoped that two new M class boats will be built, while three residents of our largest marine suburb expect to start work on three 22-footers to an American design known throughout the States as the "Star" class. The 1-4 ft onedesign class is to be reinforced by at least one new boat, professionally built, and two Manukau yachtsmen. Owen Bray and C. Whiting, will build another j which will take part in the principal I events on this side Largely owing to I the high cost of building compared with J pre-war days, very lew keel yachts have been built in the past ten years, with the exception of the Prize, the welcome addition to our pleasure fleet, built last season, nnd which has yet to be seen at her best, and Delville, the 0-metre boat, j limit two years ago. This boat is now having a neat counter added, which will improve her appearance beyond all question. Col. Wild also has a very shapely small keel yacht Hearing completion for i Mr. J. S. ■(•null, of Wellington. The new boat is 29ft (iiti overall, 21ft waterline, 7ft !>in beam, and sft draught. It is quite c.n the cards that she will proceed to Wellington on her own bottom. The very rapid growth of small class boats has been the outstanding feature of our sport since the close of the war and. although the present classes I are so numerous as to be the despair of a few economically minded members of sailing committees, who think far I enough • ahead to consider the club's diminished balance sheet, after the ! numerous prizes have l>een paid for, yet I they all help to popularise the sport, nnd this, after all is the main object of a club's existence, ejo. boys, build your boat, either by your own hands or have it built for you. but get a boat and get right into the game, which will help to make a man of you, and if our respected Governor. Lord Jellicoo, with his wide experience of life, holds the opinion that his very happiest hours have been spent I sailing his 14-footer on tho Waitcmata, I surely the average .young Aucklander j can find the same pleasure in learning to handle a boat and winning a race or two against other keen rivals on the water, which offers better scope for individual skill and initiative tliun any sport or pastime ashore can ever hope to. While on the subject of the onedesign class, is it not time that this class was (liven a distinctive name, especially as even now the title "onedesign" raises the ire; of a few irresponsible individuals, who do not care ' whether the class lives or dies out? What better name could be given to the class than that of our departing patron of the sport of yachting in general, and this class in paricular, Lord Jellieoe? I'iis intcrost in tins cliiss stiirt(?cl very ' shortly after his arrival here, and he has continued it right through. The fact of presenting Iron Duke to one of her crew so that she could continue to race in her class and so help to keep up the interest already taken in it by a large section of the public, is, in itself, a sure sign that Lord .Jellieoe has the best interests of this class at heart, and in spite of his joke about recommending his successor to take up tlie ls-footers. as there are no blanks in this class, yet it is more than likely that our next representative of the King will follow the lead of Lord Jellieoe if lie is at all inclined to indulge in boat sailing, which we are told on the highest authority, is the case. In view of the impending departure of Lord Jellieoe, it would be a graceful act on the part of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, which is really the sponser of this class, to officially adopt the name "Jellieoe class" for the now popular boat, which each year battles so strenuously for the Sanders Cup. a title which, in itself, makes it more fitting that two names of men who served their King and country so well should be associated and perpetuated for all time in this manner. Not only in Auckland are we to see some new boats built to the Kona design ■with the object of competing in the next Sanders Cup contest, but Wellington has one ordered and a second one is very probable as the members of the Wcllesley Club are very keen on this matter. A new boat is building in Lyttelton to give Sam Sinclair's Linnet i a good run for the honour of represent- j j ing that centre, Dunedin men are as keen i as ever, in spite of arguments over the plans, which have generally been greatly exaggerated or at least 'not ! understood." as Tom Bracken put it, and have already ordered one new boat. It is quite likely that a boat will represent Marlborough province next season, as several good Nelson sports are inter- I osting themselves in the matter. While, so far. Napier' is satisfied with Konini! • it is quite on the cards that a second ! boat will appear there before the season j opens. Southland still trusts to Muri- i liiku, and mention of "Muri" brings us j to the question that the venue of the ! noxt contest is about due to lie settled, j Many would like to see the Cup raced I for in Hall Moon Bay, Stewart Island. J bul this is a far cry from Anck- • land. and. perhaps. Napier. or Lyitekon might be more popular with the owners. or rather the various associations winch have to Wvi the bill. Even our own claim to hold the contest on the Wailemata is not to be lightly passed over, especially in view i of the fact that Otago has already put in a strong claim for the contest to be held in Dunedin in 192U, when the New Zealand Exhibition will be in full swing

in that city. Whatever the decision of the association may be, it is time the matter was discussed and a definite locality arrived at. We understand that Napier has sent a request to the Auckland Association to have the next contest sailed in their waters. The old adage of "one volunteer," etc., is a j good one, and Napier's request for the I contest should receive the attention it j deserves. \ i Last evening the "Royals' , entertained I Mr. Chas. P. Murdoch, who is on a j to Auckland alter an absence of some years. Mr. Murdoch was elected commodore of the squadron in I'JUI, and held this oflice until 1!)U7. It was dur- , ing Mr. Murdochs term that the club j was granted the title of "Royal." This ! was in August, 1002, the officers at that | time being Commodore Murdoch, \ iceCommodore R. R. Masetield, RearCommodore J. R. Uray; lion, .secretary, Mr. F. \V. Coombes; assistant lion, sec- . rotary, Mr. P. H- Cole; and lion, trea- ! surer, Mr. R. 8. Reynolds. Mr. Murdoch succeeded Mr. John Wiseman, who had held the office of commodore for a number of years. Ins llagship being the old-timer Matangi, a very popular ship, ami one on which a large number of . Auckland yachtsmen received a thorough training, standing them in good stead up to the present time. Mr. Murdoch was also a very popular commodore, Hy-,. ing his flag on the five-rater Ida. He was a great believer in cruising races and social gatherings at various bays, j and some very enjoyable outings were held under his flag. He was a keen competitor in all club event-s, and also took great interest in the Anniversary Regatta, acting on the committee for a number of years. Before joining the squadron, Mr Murdoch took an active interest in, and held office as. vice and rear-commodore of the North Shore Yacht Club. At the gathering last evening. Commodore A. Burt. referred to the good work Mr Murdoch had done for the sport of yachting in Auckland, n' , for the squadron in particular, and, on behalf of some of the older members, nsked Mr Murdoch's acceptance of a small souvenir. i The recent prosecution of the owner of a yacht for failing to carry the regulation port and starboard lights when under weigh after dark should act as a warning to all who are careless in this matter of lights. While it may be sufficient for a rowing boat to carry a lantern which will show a white lieht only, yet from the ruling it is made very clear that anything larger than a rowing boat must conform to the law and carry the regulation port and starboard lights. The next man to be caught in this way may not get off so easily, as i the law provides for penalties up to ■ £200. Mr. L. 0. Mahon, well known in yachting circles as a former hor/'.rary secretary of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, has been appointed manager of the ship chandlery department of Messrs. A. B. Donald. Queen Street, and will take charge on Monday next.

Prize nights are the chief yachting functions of consequence about this time. Unfortunately both the Manukau and the Point Chevalier Clubs have chosen Saturday, July l>, as the date for their respective prize nights. This is unfortunate, as quite a number of visitors from city clubs would like to attend both gatherings. It would be a graceful act on the part of the junior club to defer their night for a week. The Manukau Club smoke concert will be held in the clubhouse, Onehunga, on July 12, the occasion being the club's thirty-third annual prize night. The Point Chevalier Club's social and dance is listed for the same night in the new clubhouse, when trophies to the value of £50 will be presented, in addition to four valuable cups for which competition is held annually. The Devonport Club's prize night is* fixed for Wednesday, July 10. It will take the form of a social and dance. The Ponsonby Club's prize night is fixed for Thursday, July 24, and tiie Akarana Club's smoke concert and distribution of prizes for Saturday, August 2.