YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 137, 11 June 1932, Page 14

YACHTING.

"ROYALS'" PRIZE NIGHT. WAIRIKI'S MANY WINS. 30FT CRUISER BUILDING. (Bv SPEEDWELL.I COMING EVENTS. June 15.—Manukau Cruising Club, Prize Night. Juno 16.—Richmond Cruising Club Prize Night. June 23. —-Manukau Yacht Club Annual Meeting. JuiK! 29. —Victoria Cruising Club Prize Night. July IC—Akaranu Yacht Club Prize Night. August o.—Point Chevalier Sailing Club Price Night. August 10.—Tamaki Yacht Club Prize Night. August -o. —Devouport Xncht Club Prize Night. ROYAL N.Z. YACHT SQUADRON. 60TH ANNUAL PRIZE NIGHT. The sixtieth annual prize night of the Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron was held last evening in the clubrooms, Commodore N\ L. Mucky presiding over a big attendance, including many of the oldest members of the club. His Excellency the Governor-General, Lord Bledisloe, patron of the club, presented the trophies won during the past season. The guests included. Captain Binges Watson. R.N., Messrs. G. R. Hutchinson (Harbour Board), J. S. Brigham (City Council), and officers ot local yacht clubs. The principal prize winners were Messrs Winstonc Bros.' Nga Toa, Gover-nor-General's Cup, Macky Memorial Cup, T M Alexander Memorial Cup and Mr. H. E. Vailc's trophy; Mr. Geo. Mackenzie's lorangi, Admiral Blake's trophy (Kawau race) and Rear-Commodore E. H. Northcroft's trophy; Mr. W. P. Endeans Prize, the Horton Bequest; Messrs. lv. B and S. S. Wilson's Ariki, Commodore Macky's trophy; Mr. N. H. Newcomb's Ladye Wilma, Vice-Commodore J. H. Prater's trophy; Mr. E. Swinnerton's Little Jim, the Johnson Cup. M Class.—Mr. W. Ahler's Maroro, Commander Berthon's trophy, Drysdale Cup and two other first prizes; Mr. R. h. Stewart's Manene, Wilson Cup and one other first prize; Messrs. Chamberlain and Goodfellow's Manu, first prize tor race at Kawau.

WAIRIKI CHANGES HANDS. The well-known keel yacht Wairiki has been purchased from Mr. D. Macky by Mr. A. 11. Stewart, of Remuera. He will use her principally for cruising, but with the help of Mr. H. T. Upton, who lias a share in the yacht, she may compete in the Squadron's and Devonport Club's events next season. It is possible that Wairiki will also take part in the race to Tauranga, which she has won on three occasions. Wairiki was built in 1904 at Vauxlia.ll, Devonport, by the late Frank (Butler) Bennett and E. Stitchbury. She was designed by Mr. Arch Logan, who supervised her building, although her owners, who were both carpenters, did the work. Wairiki is 35ft 0.a., 24ft waterline, and draws sft 3in. In the hands of her original owners she competed in all the races of the North Shore Yacht Club, and later in the Devonport Yacht Club, winning many prizes. Her owners also cruised extensively in her. She was sold in 1908 to Mr. Trevor Gedye, of Parnell, who continued to race her, and in 1911 he sold to Mr. George Dennes, of Ponsonby. Mr. Dennes owned her for some years, and raced her successfully.

In 1920 she was purchased by Mr. Syd. Speight, of Karangahape Road, who had her thoroughly overhauled by Arch Logan. A new mast was stepped, and her sail area increased. Mr. Speight raced her consistently in the Squadron, Akarana, Devonport. Ponsonby and Victoria clubs, winning quite a collection of prizes. He also took part in the annual ocean race to Tauranga, in which he was successful, winning the coveted gold cup and minia'iure in 1920 and 1921); also the race to Mercury Hay in 1928. Wairiki competed no less than eight times under Mr. Speight's ownership in the race to Tauranga, gaining two firsts, two seconds and two thirds. Wairiki was purchased by Mr. T. H. Macky two years ago for his son, Dave, who sailed her very keenly, winning the race to Coromandel in 1931, also the Tauranga ocean race tAe same year. Thia year Wairiki has been in charge of Dr. Frank Macky, who has done a lot of cruising during the season, and has competed in most of the "Royal's" events. Wairiki's record as a prize-winner is hard to beat, and although 28 years old sho is in first-class condition. Her new owners pulled her up on the Devonport Yacht Club's slip last Saturday.

ANOTHER NEW YACHT. It is pleasing to learn that in addition to the two schooner-rigged yachts being built at Dcvonport, a third yacht is being built, which will be ready for the water within the next two months. The new boat is a keoler, 29ft 6in overnil, 24ft Cin waterline, 7ft" Bin beam and 4ft 3in draught. She will be rigged with the modern Bermudan mast and mainsail and carry one headsail, which will not extend beyond the stem-head. Everything is planned for ease in handling, and she will be practically a one-man boat. She is being built by L. A. Tercel, to the order of a well-known Whangarei yachtsman, and is well advanced, being planked and decked, and work on her cabins and general fittings below deck is in course of completion. She will have VAs tons of lead cast on her keel and another half ton as inside ballast. The new boat is very stroiig'v constructed on the diagonal principle, her planking being a total of l%in thick. In addition to the deck stringer and the bottom shelf, there" are three longitudinal stringers between. The keel is 9in by 6in. The cabin top runs well for'ard, over both main and fore cabins, giving sft 3in headroom throughout. Tn"e main cabin, which is Bft long, is entered direct from the deck by steps; the cockpit is in the form of a well, further aft, and is not connected with the cabin, being watertight and selfemptying amd 4ft long, with slats on each side. The main cabin has wide bunks, with lockers beneath. In the after end will be a galley to port, and sink, etc., to starboard. Beneath the cockpit provision is made for a small auxiliary engine, which will be fitted next season. She will carry 420 square feet of sail, in a very snug rip, with no bowsprit, and the end of the main boom only extending 18 inches beyond the counter. The boat will be launched as soon as completed, and will go to her home port of Whangarei. where she will be a welcome addition 'to the Whangarei Cruising Club's fleet.

MODEL CLUB FORMED AT PONSONBY.

In response to a suggestion made in this column that a model yacht club be formed in Ponsonby, a meeting of those interested was held on Wednesday evening in the Pousonby Cruising Club's rooms. It was decided to form a club to be named the Ponsonby Model Yacht Club, and over 20 young men were enrolled as members at a nominal fee. Officers and committee were appointed, and it was decided to adopt a 2ft model as a standard, and to hold races fortnightly on the boat harbour, St. Mary's Bay, for this class and for all-comers. The boys are very keen on racing, and Mr. W. T. Matthews, the club captain, has been promised the use of several dinghies by members of the Ponsonby and Victoria Clubs to enable the young owners to follow their boats.