AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LV, Issue 188, 9 August 1924, Page 21

AQUATICS.

(By "SPEEDWELL.")

At the annual prize night of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Sir Joseph Ward, in replying to the toast of "Our' Guests," proposed by Vice-Commodore I W. Duncan, mentioned the fact that the Tasman Cup, offered by himself for inter-colonial competition, had not brought about the desired object, and he would have no objection, and was quite willing to allow the cup to fro for intcrprovincial competition. A letter was received this week by Mr. J. C. Hewson, secretary of the Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron from the secretary of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, setting out the above facts, and asking for; the Squadron's views on the matter. i

During the contest for the Sanders' Ci;p in Wellington in January last quite a lot of interest was aroused not only amongst yachtsmen, but business men generallj', especially during the last two or three days. It was at the Wellesley Club that a subscription was set on foot to provide funds to build a new boat for the next contest, to represent the capital city. The necessary funds were quickly subscribed, the amount bring limited to £.=> per member. At this time, Sir Joseph Ward, who viewed the last two or three races, intimated his desire to donate a 100-guinea cup to the 14ft. class, to be supplemented by a cash donation of £2o for four years. The majority of the speakers at the recent social gatherings of the local clubs were firmly of the opinion that we are in for a big revival of interest in the white-winged section of our sport in tbe coming season. Each club showed a largely increased membership, and a bigger prize list during the past season. Large and comfortable club houses had : been built by splendid community effort, and trophies in the shape of j valuable cups and more useful articles,' which are donated annually to the various clubs, went to show the interest j taken in this sport by the general j public. Another matter which gave cause for congratulation was the splendid spirit of good fellowship now existing amongst all the clubs from the I Squadron, which might be termed the | mother club, down to the baby of the i clubs, the Milford Cruising Club, founded I only last season. As the population of | our city increases, more people would be found taking their pleasure on the water, which had been termed in the United States "the dustless highway." Those of us who were born and bred here take our harbour and the outer gulf as a matter of course, but visitors are quick to see the many advantages we have at our very doors, so to speak, for enjoying yachting under ideal conditions, and where we now have a pleasure fleet of some 600 craft all told, it will not be very long before this number is increased to 1000 and even more. This will call for boat harbours or other special facilities wfiich we now have on a Bmall scale only, but the rising generation can be safely left to look after their own interests in such matters. Each year the Harbour Board becomes more sympathetic to the needs of boating meu, and the time will come when means will be found of building boat harbours to meet all reasonable requirements. This all goes to show that we should keep up our interest in the sport and try to conduct our clubs and all matters connected with them in a true sporting manner. It should be a matter of honour amongst all yachtsmen to do nothing to bring disrespect on their club or on the sport generally. Unfortunately, this has not always i>een the rule, although there are exceptions to everything, and for the number who do go afloat each week-end the percentage is small. If one or two clubs would | have the courage to ask members who cannot conduct themselves in a proper manner to resign, it would have a very salutary effect.

Captain Sergeant, who, in spite of the numerous calls on his time, always has a sympathetic ear for the troubles of yachtsmen, gave some good advice when speaking to the toast of the Harbour Board last week. The number of craft which sail about the harbour after sunset without carrying the regulation lights is on the increase, and the authorities will be compelled in the interests of other owners to take more drastic measures to enforce the regulations if it continues. Once let the Government get the idea that we must be regulated and there will be no telling where it will end. We may find ourselves forced to paint a series of numbers round our boats' topsides as they do in the States. What we may and may not carry in the shape of equipment, and number on board will follow, and alll this surely means some form of taxation, which at present we are happily free from with one or two exceptions. The regulation' side lights can be had quite cheaply, and as regards the rule of the road, we have published it repeatedly. Clubs with a number of junior members might profitably employ

one or two evenings before next season commences in arranging for little talks on this subject, which is easily illustrated by means of a blackboard. Here again our harbourmaster offered to help, and one lecture in each club on this subject would be greatly appreciated, and should be largely attended. Now that the season of prize nights is finished, 6ome of the clubs are making preparation for their annual meeting. The Victoria Club will hold their annual meeting in the clubhouse on Wednesday, August 20. Nominations for all offices require to be in the hands of the secretary tyro daye previous.

Mr. T. L. Thompson has announced that he is not seeking re-election. Speculation is rife as to who his successor will be. Mr. Thompson has done a great deal for the Victoria Club, and whoever takes up the position will have a good example to follow in the retiring commodore. Mr. Thompson will have the satisfaction of knowing that he leaves the club in a much better position than when he took office, the club house alone standing as lasting evidence of his good work.

After fourteen years' peaceful existence alongside a Sydney wharf, the hulk Loch Katrine is to leave the New South Wales port for Rabaul. The Loch Katrine has an interesting history. First of the famous Loch line of clippers to arrive in Australia, she reached Melbourne in 18(if), closely followed by the Loch Ness. Before sailing from Glasgow, says an Australian journal, the boatswains of the two vessels became involved in the perennial sea argument whether a ship when "in stays" (going about) is necessarily "in irons." Loch Katrine held that a vessel in stays still carried headway and was under control, whereas '"in irons" meant that she was "all aback" and helpless. Loch Ness maintained that the terms were synonymous—that a ship naturally got

"in irons" every time she went about. The controversialists soon came to blows; they were separated and placed aboard their respective ships. Three months later, when the two vessels came together again, the bo's'n of the Loch Ness approached his rival on tho Loch Katrine. ''Now we'll settle that argument, '' he roared, and commenced peeling off his heavy guernsey. The Katrine's bo's'n hopped ashore while his opponent's head and arms were entangled in the guernsey. "Yes," he amended, ''I'll settle it now, while you're "in irons.' " And he did.

The Takapuna Boating Club is again on the warpath for funds to clear olf their new building, and good luck to them This week three performances of the pantomime Cinderella will be given in the big room on the top floor, where a stage has been built equal to that of the King's Theatre. The next move will be a big carnival and bazaar, by which it is hoped to clear up the balance of the cost of building. When this happy event is accomplished the club will turn its attention more seriously to purely boating matters, and no doubt will then take its place amongst our racing and cruising clubs, and cater for several classes, although the small boats will always claim their greatest interest.

The annual meeting of the X.Z. Power Boat Association will be held in the clubhouse on Wednesday, September 17. The prizes won last season will be pre-

sented on this occasion, and a lecture will be arranged for on some popular subject. The committee has been carefully considering the adoption of a new class of small, fast launches of a healthy type in which speed and comfort may be reasonably combined. This will also be decided at the annual meeting.

The Point Chevalier Sailing Club will hold their first annual ball in the new clubhouse on Wednesday, August 27.

When presenting the Lipton Cup to Marie's skipper at the Akarana Yacht Club last Saturday, Mr. Eliot Davis gave several personal reminiscences of Sir Thomas. Although now 75 years old. and the head of a very large business, yachting was his only hobby, and the only recreation he permitted himself. To date he had spent over a quarter of a million in his efforts to lift the America Cup, and had made provision in his will for further sums for this purpose in the event of not being sue- ' cessful himself. Sir Thomas took a keen [ interest in yachting in every portion of the British Empire, and the presentation Jof such a valuable trophy to tbe Pon- ' sonby Club was proof of his interest in 1 this country. Tn a prominent place at his home in London, Mr. Davis hnd seen a laree nicturp containing a number of Auckland's representative yachts, which Sir Thomas bad shown a keen interest in, and he asked Mr. Davis many questions about the snort here, and cxi pressed a wish that he would be able to ! visit Auckland after the next contest for the America Cup. which is to tak? plnre in September, 1026. Ouite recently Sir Thomas had sent a silver cup for mm'petition in the 14ft Jellicoe class,which bad been handed over to the Auckland .Yacht nnd Motor Boat Association for i competition next season.

Keen satisfaction has been expressed in British yachting circles over the fact that Hi's Majesty the King has reconsidered his first decision not to race his fine old yacht Britannia this season. Not only is this decision popular amongst yachtsmen but it has been well received by the public generally who are interested in yachting. It is probable that His Majesty's decision has been influenced by the fact that Mr. H. \V. Blundell, of Lulworth Castle, has purchased and will race Terpsichore in all the big events. Various alterations have been carried out on this boat with a view to improving her sailing qualities, and in view of the good form shown bj- her in some of her races last season she should now make a close race with Britannia. She will in future be known as Lulworth. Sir Thomas Lipton is fitting out Shamrock, not the last Cup challenger, but t|he 19-metre boat, which will again be in charge of T. Diaper. Mrs. Workman's Nyria will be greatly missed from the big races, as she is not in commission this season. There can be no doubt that His Majesty's decision to send Britannia to the principal regattas round the coast has saved the situation as far as the first-class cutters are concerned.

Master Bo>b, the winner of the Paris Grand Steeplechase, brought his owner, Comte dv Crozet, 232,450fr as first money, besides the handsome work of art, consisting of a silver soup tureen of the value of 20,000fr. Bonaparte, who created such a good impression when he won in Melbourne in the spring, has apparently uot wintered too well, and a Melbourne writer, who saw him recently, had the following to say: "I was disappointed with what I did see of the Boniform colt. He may have grown a little, but as far as I could judge, has filled out very little at all since he raced eight months ago. Perhaps I may alter my opinion when I look him over more carefully a week or two hence, but he did not impress mc as a Derby or Cup candidate." Commenting on the Coventry Two-Year-Old Stakes run at Ascot recently "Vigilant" says: "Of the ten youngsters who ran for the Coventry Stakes I liked none quite so well as Constantine, a nice coloured and w-ell grown son of Sunstar—Geraldina, and owned by Lord Dewar. There is much to admire in the King's colt, Runnymede (Hurry On—Sainfs Mead), and Marksman (Snnstar—Popaway). The race needs little description, for Iron Mask and Iceberg were always in the van, but on •the contrary, Constantine was noticeable in the rear, and was many lengths behind the leaders a furlong from the

finish. Constantine recovered a lot of ground on the ascent for home, but while running on into third place the race was then virtually over, Iceberg cleverly defeating Iron Mask, who apparently failed to stay up the hill. How Iceberg came to be beaten by Merit at Sandown is a mystery, for there he ran as though deficient in stamina. It all probability we shall find Constantine in the course of time reversing the placings with the first and second." In all likelihood the. bulk of those that mix speculation with their racing will I not be sorry to have done with Ascot for another twelvemonth, even though as a social pageant the function may fairly be said to have reached high-water mark, while there was little of that "drying- | up" in connection with certain of the \ races that we have known in some past ; seasons when the ground has been on the | hard side, on which occasions owners | have thought twice about running valu- ! able animals, and finally decided that j discretion was the better part of valour. ! But reverting to the meeting as reviewed from the speculators' standpoint, there were too many unexpected results to make for a satisfactory settling day (says an English writer). Blacker Ascots can perhaps be recalled, but that the layers had much the better of the majority of the various bouts with their clients cannot be gainsaid. Favourites went down one after another like ninepins until one almost wondered whether their was a conspiracy among them to defeat the ends of these who hoped to get their expenses and something extra to be going on with out of the gentlemen with the books and satchels.