AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 192, 15 August 1925, Page 25

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL.)

This time of the year yachtsmen are supposed to have their craft in snug quarters ashore and are enduring the "winter of our discontent," so that it

was quite a surprise to see the number of pleasure craft which assembled off Rangitoto beacon about noon on Tuesday to bid welcome to the eight big battleships of Uncle Sam's fleet. It was a grey and misty morning, exactly like that Sunday, 17 years ago when the 16 vessels comprising the Great White Fleet, appeared out of the mist off Rangitoto beacon in the early morn-

Macky won his last race in Her in March, 1915, and just eight weeks later both he and Mrs. Macky were drowned by the torpedoing of the Lusitania, off the Old Head of Kinsale, Ireland. The yacht was sold in September, 1915, to Mr. W. R. Ingram, then rear-commodore of the North Shore Yacht Club, who has owned her ever since. Under Mr. Ingram's flag, Ilex has competed in many races. But he preferred cruising and regularly visited the north, at least once each season, except during 1917-IS-19, when her owner was engaged on war service. The new owner of Ilex, Mr. H. R. Bloomfield, is an old Parnell yachtsman, who, together with his brother, Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield, had the Viking built to their order by C. Bailey. Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield was for many years commodore of the Royal's, and his last boat was Thelma; but he is better known to tho older hands as owner of Arawa. It is pleasing to see yachtsmen coming back into the sport and it illustrates a saying, firmly believed by "Speedwell" that " once a yachtsman, always a yachtsman."

By the kindness of Admiral S. S. Robison, the flagship California will be open to members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and their friends on Saturday next, August 22, from 1 p.m.

Lord Jellicoe was the guest of honour at a dinner given in London recently by the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve (Auxiliary Patrol) Club, when New Zealand yachtsmen came in for special mention by our ex-Governor-General. The chairman, Commander Harry Vandervell, himself one of the leading yachtsmen of England, said they had heard how well Lord Jellicoe had sailed his 14-footer Iron Duke in Auckland and other ports of the Dominion, and had thus helped the sport along and incidentally carried off some prizes. Lord Jellicoe, in the course of replying to the toast of his health, made some very telling points on the great value to the nation of fostering the sea-sense both at home and in the Dominions. Lord Jellicoe said they needed that sea spirit which is inborn in the populace of these islands and which carries the people through every sort of difficulty wherever they have to face it. It is that great sea tradition which made the Empire of to-day, which carried the British flag to unknown regions in little craft, which inspired Captain Cook to discover Australia and New Zealand, though not for the first time, and many other portions of the globe. It is that sea spirit, that sea tradition, which makes men of the British race refuse to be conquered by the elements. That is the spirit which carried the auxiliary naval forces through the war and carried them to %-ictory. It was the same spirit which he was proud to find in New Zealand. The yachtsmen of New Zealand in very large numbers came over to this country to join the patrol. When he went into Auckland Harbour he realised what a tremendous asset there was in the people of the Dominion if properly handled. It ought to be the duty of everybody in power to see that that spirit was kept up and proper use was made of it, so that if the call should unhappily come again it might be answered as readily as during the Great War. In New Zealand a branch of the R-N.V.R. had been formed so that those splendid fellows who got together during the war could hand their traditions down to those who came after. When he went on the Empire tour in H.M.s. New Zealand to advise the Dominions as to how best they could assist the Navy in the future, one of the first things he had recommended was the establishment of a force of R.N.V.R. in each Dominion, not only for the purpose for which ±he R.N.V.R. was used, but also because he felt, and still felt, that the more persons who were linked up in this way the better would the sea spirit and sea traditions be maintained. After a war such as they had just been through, added Earl Jellicoe, it was always the case that the defensive forces of the Empire were cut down. It had happened after Trafalgar. It had happened now. The only way to check that tendency on the part of the Government to economise on defences, because they felt money was needed for other purposes, was for the people themselves to press upon the Government that they would not have the naval defences of the Empire reduced. The people who could do that best were those who had themselves taken a part in the naval defences, such as the R.N.V.R. He was quite certain a great deal would be needed in this direction in the near future.

An interesting souvenir distributed at the dinner showed an excellent print of H.M.s. Iron Duke on one side and on the other the 14ft Iron Duke sailing in a race on the waters of the Waitemata, with Lord Jellicoe at the helm.

A correspondent, who is evidently an old deep-water, sailor, writes as follows on the rule of the road for sailing vessels. Of course the 6ame rules apply equally to yachts. Another old rhyme makes this clear. It runs:

The same law applies to everything sailing. The same penalty goes to everything falling.

Our correspondent says:—"The following verses on the rule of the road for sailing ships were given to mc some years ago when serving in a fourmasted barque. Although the verses for steamships crossing and passing are well-known, I have met very few men who knew the rules in verse for sailing ships, so I venture to send them along. I must explain that British and American law is that when steering with a wheel 'port helm' means you turn the wheel to starboard and the ship's head goes to starboard. 'Starboard your helm' means turn your wheel to port and the ship's head goes to port. But on the Continent the orders are reversed. 'Port your helm' means go to port, and 'starboard helm' the ship's head goes to starboard. To avoid confusion a foreign pilot always indicates with his hand which way he wants the wheel put." RULE OP THE ROAD FOR SAILING VESSELS. STARBOARD TACK. • On starboard tack with yards braced tight. See that your red and green are bright. For every ship that's in your way Must clear your ship both night and day. PORT TACK. But when upon your port you steer, It Is your duty to keep clear Of all those close-hauled ships ahead, No matter whether green or red. RUNNING. When running free with wind abaft Keep a good look out for every craft When to your starboard red appears' Just port your helm and you will clear But- when a green on your port bow. ' WeU. put your helm to starboard now. Be well advised and quick to learn There's safety passing -roun« ' their '-■tarn.