THE ROYAL YACHT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 151, 27 June 1936, Page 21

THE ROYAL YACHT.

BRITANNIA'S END. FOR " DAVY JONES' LOCKER." The cables announced yesterday the fate of His late Majesty King George's yacht Britannia, which is to be towed out to sea off Cowes, where she raced so frequently, and sunk in deep water. Many suggestions have been made regarding the disposal of the Royal yacht, but in deference to King George's expressed wish that she be sunk in preference to being broken up, Britannia, a "sheer hulk," stripped of nil her fittings, is to make her last voyage on Wednesday week, July 8. Sir Philip Hunltfke, Captain Turner and a few others will accompany Her. No doubt the occasion will be taken advantage of to form a procession of yachts and motor vessels and the inevitable pictures will later show us the final scenes and her disappearance to "Davy Jones' Locker."

A sale of the Britannia's gear and equipment, cabin fittings, etc., realised over £ 1000. No doubt the souvenirs thus secured will be greatly valued as time goes on and will become almost priceless.

The Britannia was designed by Mr. G. L. Watson and built In 1803 at his yard on the banks of the Clyde for the late King George's father, then Prince of Wales. Her Hieing record for G25 starts is 231 firsts and 129 other prizes. In her first two or three 'years she was especially successful, beating all lier British opponents, also the American yachts Navahoe and later the Vigilant, which had successfully defended the America Cup against Lord Dunraven's Valkyrie 11. Sir Philip Hunloke usually sailed Britannia in her races during the past decade, having a professional skipper under him. Sir Philip, who was a great friend of King George, retired last season from yacht racing. Now completely outclassed by the newer J class yachts of the Endeavour type, the "Old Britty," as she is affectionately called, has lain at a Cowes yard since King George decided last August that she should race no more. King George's affection for her ■was such that during his reign she was reconditioned six times and more than £ 50,000 was spent on her. In her last race, with King George at the helm, during the Jubilee regatta last year, she beat the former America Cup challenger Shamrock V. .

NEW BOATS FOR 1937.

A LOOK AROUND LIDGARDS'. The continued activity In all the boatbuilding yards of Auckland was mentioned last week and descriptions were given of a number of boats building by Mr. P. Vos, including the 45-foot deep water cruising ketch for Mr. Mills Palmer. Other boats building by Mr. Vos are a 38-foot keel yacht, of which the keel has just been laid, to the order of Mr. Jas. Inkster, a well-known member of the Nga Toa's crew since she was built. The new yacht will have a beam of 10ft and sft Oin draught and be Bermudan rigged. Another order Is for a 23-foot double-ended keel yacht for Mr. L. M. Wood, of Devonport. This boat is from the design of Dr. Harrison Butler, a well-known British designer of small sea-going cruisers. A 40ft by 31ft cruising launch is to be built for Mr. Stephen Menzies, of Hastings, and will be kept at Wliakatane. She will have a four-cycle Liter Diesel engine and be well iittcd below deck. A start has been made on a-32ft by Oft cruising launch for two local boating men. Another busy firm on the new Western reclamation is Messrs. Lidgard Brothers. The brothers are all keen yachtsmen and take part in the racing of the various clubs each week in the season. Mr. Roy Lidgard, head of the firm, put up a great fight in Marie for the last Lipton Cup. Valeria beating lier by 38s after .a - good race from gun to gun.

Last year the firm built a number of keel yachts and are now busy on boats for the coming season. Almost completed is a 26-foot C class keeler for Mr. C. Freeman, of Mount ■ Eden-. She will carry the modern Bermudan rig of jib and mainsail. Another craft Is a 26ft by Bft Gin by 4ft keeler for Mr. A. Crawford. This boat will have two suits of sails, one being of green sailcloth. A smart-looking 22-foot mullet boat (L class) is almost finished. She is for Mr. S. Naismith and will have a gaff mainsail. She is painted a light green and has very good lines, being an improvement on the Marie. A second 22-footer (L class) is also under way for Mr. Vic. Lidgard, a well-known and successful skipper of centreboard boats, who won the Sanders Cup in liona at Wellington in 1924. A third 22-footer (L class) is also being built by Doug. Rogers from Mr. R. Lidgard's design and it is her owner's intention to race her hard at all local fixtures next season. Like the other two, tills boat will be gaff rigged. A 24-foot keel yacht is also nearly finished for Mr. Sawbridge, of Remuera.

Hauled up at Lidgards' are the yachts Ariki, Ilex. Tawera, Little Jim, Wniomo, Tainui, Vida, Reliance. Lady Edna, Kaliiri, Roiaata, Oriti, Dorothy and Rover. The motor boats include Mr. I'ardy's Ngaroma, Dr. Long's Maro. Mr. Allen's Monna, also Veroim, Moongalba, Mecrlieu, Wanderer, Geisha, Mr. W. R. Ingram ; Norma. Mr. Moss; Lady Thelma, Pelican. Lady Sybil, Walmana and Ngawari. The 30-foot, launch Bee has been sold by the firm to Mr. Fred Strongman, of Coromandel, a well-known supporter of the regatta, who lends his 40foot launch Roa as judge's boat each Easter. Another sale is Mr. Fred JelFers' 32-footer N.vria to Mr. Hayter, of Whakatane. Also nearing completion are 17 small boats for Mr. Anson, to bo used at The Mount, Tauranga. Inside tile harbour. Several other orders for keel and centreboarders are pending. Messrs. Collings and Bell and R. Lang, of St. Mary's Bay, are also busy turning out boats for the 193G-7 season. At Messrs. C. Bailey's and W. G. Lowe's yards work on several boats is in progress, and at the latter's yard a big fleet is in winter quarters, including tlie Viking, 'which will be put into commission by - the Navy on the return of the warsliipsMln,; August. At Noi'thcote Mr. Alan Couldrey is busy, one of his orders being a 45-foot keel yacht for Mr. Pat Ncwcomb. Colin Wild, at Stanley Bay, and Mr. G. S. Miller, at Vauxliall. Devonport, are building new craft. Mr. Sam Ford, of Ellerslie, lias several new boats on order, including a 40-footor for Mr. Wills, of Epsom. Tlie Lane Motor Boat Co. have a number of launches hauled up at'their yard and repair work in hand. In addition to the above, amateurs are also building boats- of all shapes and sizes; and these will be described next week. It certainly looks us if last season's record will bo topped in 1930-7.