YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 213, 9 September 1933, Page 14

YACHTING.

EQUINOCTIALS?

YAWL MATANGI.

OLD-TIME YACHTSMEN

PREPARING FOR THE SEASON,

(By SPEEDWELL.)

One of the best-known and moet popular yachte of the 'eighties and 'nineties was the yawl Matangi. She was built by R. Logan, sen., at • Devonport, in 1885, for Mr. C. B. Stone, of Stone Bros., shipowners. She measured 13 tons and was about 50ft overall, with a schooner bow and fairly long counter for those days. She carried 12 tons of lead on her keel and drew Bft of water. When first launched she was rigged as a cutter and always being black with .cold line ehe looked really smart. Her depth gave ample room below and she was a very comfortable ship, and later was rigged as a yawl, which rig she carried for 35 years.

In 1880 the Jessie Logan was built by R. Logan, sen., and was bought by Messrs. John Wiseman and Harry Wilson a year later. They sailed the Jessie successfully until 1885, when they sold her to Walter Jones, who previously owned the Masher. After selling the Jessie, Messrs. Wiseman and Wilson bought the 7-ton yacht Tawcra from Mr. D. H. McKenzie. Tawera had been built a few years previously for Mr. C. B. Stone. After three years' ownership of Tawera, Messrs. Wiseman and Wilson again moved ahead and exchanged Tawera for the Matangi, which Mr. C. B. Stone had built for himself, also by Logan, sen. This was in October, 1888, and the partnership continued for a number of years, although Mr. 11. Wilson did not take such an activo part as Mr. John Wiseman,_.f or his business required him to visit England several times.

Mr. John Wiseman in 1888 was commodore of the Auckland Yacht Club, the forerunner of the Royal New Zealand

Yacht Squadron, of which he was still commodore when the club obtained the Royal warrant and title about 1G years late I ,

'ihe yachting season at that time commenced on November 9, the Prince of Wales' birthday, and closed on May 24, the Queen's birthday. On opening day the yachts usually met off the Wynyard pier and carried out a few evolutions on their way down harbour to Home Bay, Motutapu, tho favourite then. These evolutions were indicated by flags from the Matangi, which led the fleet, and it was considered a breach of etiquette to go ahead of the flagship, no matter how fast your boat could sail.

Early Opening Evolutions. "In. line ahead," was signified by the Ensign at the peak; "a"breast, two divisions," two flags at peak; "abreast, four divisions, two flags at masthead; "go about," flag at peak and masthead; "all abreast," flag at masthead; "dismissal," dip Ensign from peak. Yachts then passed to windward of the commodore aud saluted by dipping their Ensign as they passed, and "flags" on the Matangi was kept busy returning the salutes. These simple evolutions caused great interest to the onlookers and were carried out quite smartly and as fast as the boats of those days could sail. They engendered a very friendly spirit among the crews and each took a pride in carrying out the various orders.

The yachtsmen of those days are now very far flung. Many, indeed, have sailed into the great beyond, but there are quite a number who now hold executive offices in our large city concerns and who can look back with pleasure to those days. If this serves to recall a few pleasant memories, it !s wortli while. Some of those who formed the crew of Matangi or were visitors for a week-end trip were: George McGufi'y Reid, Murray Wiseman .and David Bews, who, with the owners, John Wiseman and Harry Wilson, formed the regular crew for many years. Others who occasionally sailed on Matangi were: Frank Wiseman, Fred Mace, Jim Mathie, H. A- Marriner, Dick Partridge, Bill George. Arthur Stone, Tom Carrmchael, Harry Cameron. .T. Sommerville, J. Fraser, Bob Reynolds, William Lind, J. H. Johnton, Chas. Chambers and sometimes W. R. and Fred Wilson and Malcolm Wiseman, although these tliree usually sailed together in Moana I. or 11.

The yachts of those days were: Wenona, Muritai, Maritana, Ngaru, Maratea., Tawera, Arawa, Rita; Ngaire,. Spray, Moana 1., Malua, Yvonne, Constance and Aorere.

It was usual to engage a paid man for regattas and most of the bigger yachts had a man to look after her. Among those whose skill as sailing masters made them invaluable in a race were: Dan Holland, Ike Hunt, Jack Bell, Jack White, Walter Jones, Jas. Carlaw, Albert Sanford, C. Bailey, sen., R. Logan, sen., Frank De Silva, Ned Sweeney, Bill Hicks and Jimmy Mitchell. Sweeney was for years with Messrs. Bloomfield Bros, in Arawa, Viking and later Thelma. Jimmy Mitchell was always with Tom Henderson in Rita and Volunteer, and Bill Hicks in Matangi'.

Mr. Wiseman retired from yachting about 27 years ago, and left Auckland to live at San Diego, California, where lie passed away. His old ship was afterwards owned by Mr. Alex. Alison, of Devonport, and later by Mr. Ernest Davis, who sold her to Messrs. White and Fuller, of Wellington. She made a good passage down in charge of Captain Ted Stentiford, owner of the Sea Wolfe, and later sailed back to Auckland, where she was finally broken up in the war period, chiefly for her lead.

In spite of the fact" that scientists continue to tell us that there are no such things na equinoctial gales. Speedwell is old-fashioned enough to believe that for the next two or three weeks hard winds may bo expected. A fallacy is that the direction of the gales will indicate the direction of the prevailing winds for the season. The accuracy of this belief remains to be proved,