REVIEW OF SEASON.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 136, 11 June 1938, Page 21

REVIEW OF SEASON.

VERY FINE WEATHER.

GOVERNOR-GENERAL PRESENT

HIS TRIBUTE TO YACHTSMEN.

(By SPEEDWELL.)

The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron held their sixty-sixth annual 'prize night in the club rooms, Queen Street, on Thursday evening when the prizes were presented to the winning skippers by hie Excellency the Governor-General of New Zealand, Viscount Gal way, patron of tike t-f club. The visitors were received and welcomed by the commodore, Mr. H. J. C. George, who was supported *y Vice-Commodore M. K. Drtffin and Rear-Commodore Dr. Frank Macky, also Past Commodores A. E. Glffcrd, N. L. Macky, W. P. Kndcan, J. B. Johnston, J. H. and J. W. Frater. Also present were Captain W. Roes, honorary life member, and his Worship the Mayor, Sir Ernest , Davis, an early member of the squadron. Ihe visitors included Commodore I. G. Glennte, H.M.S. Achilles, Captain A. G. N. ; Wyatt, H.M.S. Endeavour; Commander C. B. Tialey and Lieutenant-Commander E. W. Moackton, H.M.S. Philomel; LieutenantCommander C. W. M. Vereker, H.M.S. Leander; Mr. W. B. Darlow, chairman of the Auckland Harbour Board; Captain H. H. Sergeant, harbourmaster, and Mr. D. Holderness, engineer to the Harbour Board; Mr. J. G. Groeninger, United States consul; Mr. J. Melling, town clerk. Commander C. H. T. Palmer, chairman of the Yacht and Motor Boat Association; representatives of the local yacht clubs and about 200 members.

An apology with best wishes for a pleasant evening was received from ltearAdmiral Drummond from Wellington. The trophies were displayed near the commodore's table and made a fine show. They included the J. C. Macky Memorial (Cup, the T. M. Alexander Gold Cup, the Governor-General's Cup, the Johnson Cup, the Wilson Cup, the Drysdale Cup, Admiral Blake's trophy, Mr. H. T. Goldie's trophy, and the Berthon Barrel.

After the Royal toast was honoured Mr. George welcomed his Excellency and all the visitors. He thanked his Excellency for consenting to present the prizes.

The Past Season.

Commodore George, in the course of his addrese, reviewed the past season's activities and said that the weather had been the finest, and the squadron's racing the keenest and best in its history of 66 years. They were proud of the fact that the squadron was the oldest yacht club in the Dominion, and he felt highly honoured to be in the place of the many older commodores who had rendered bo much service ;« the sport. All of last season's events bad been keenly contested, and the prices were well distributed, as shown by the fact that out of 27 races only three boats had won three first prizes. As long as we have such keen yachtsmen the old club will continue to prosper, said Mr. George, who specially referred to the success of Mr. A. E. Glfford's Rawene in winning the Macky Memorial for the annual race on time for rating. He also mentioned the success of the Moana, sailed by Mr. A. Miller, Messrs. Wilson and Clerke's Mahaki, the smallest boat to win the Alexander Memorial race to Te Kouma, Messrs. .Newcomb Brothers' Tamatea, which won the rear-commodore's trophy. Mr. D. Nathan's iorangl, which won Admiral Blake's trophy, and Messrs. Goodfellow and Chamberlin's Ariki, which won the Butler bequest. Ic the M class the championship winner was Messrs. Chaoiberlin's Mann; the crew came from Ponui Island, 24 miles away, every race day to compete. For the coming season. Mr. George said. Mr. H. Chamberlin had placed an order for a new A class keeler. The old champion. Rainbow, would race with the club next season, he stated, and four or five other boats were building for the A and B classes. There promised to be so many boats in the A division next season that the committee had seriouely considered forming It into two classes. Special thanks were due to those owners of motor boats who had taken the finishing times for the cruising races. This frequently entailed being on duty till after midnight in all weathers. The great interest taken in this sport by the officers and men of the New Zealand Division of the Royal Navy is shown by their participation in club events, also by fostering the annual race in naval whalers arranged by Llentenant Commander Monckton, of the Naval Sailing Club. He understood that the club intended to adopt a new class of boat which, he hoped, would be easier to sail than the whalers, which he thought had not altered in deslen since Captain Blight of the Bounty snileM several thousand miles in one of them. Mr. George took the opportunity of congratulating Commodore Glennie on hks appointment as Commodore of the Squadron in the Dominion, also Commander Tinley on receiving the honour of O.F.E. Special mention was made by Mr. George of the good work of one of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's oldest members. Mr. H. H. Partridge, who had gone out in his 10ft dinghy and rescued men from n capsized whaler on a very stormy day. Congratulating Mr. J. H. Frater on his election* to the Harbour Board and Mr. W B Darlow on being elected chairman, Mr. George reminded them that there was over £400.000 represented by the pleasure fleet of Auclclnnd. He thanked the board for pushinz on the St. Mary's Bay boat harbour, which, he understood, would b* ready by the coming Reason. The everincreasin«r Pe°t or yachts and motor boats would cnll for ncoonmmodatlon on the eastern side of the cltv and no doubt the board-, would renllse this and help to foster a love for the sen in men and youths whow , evnerienco would bo useful in time of need. Already plans were in hand to form n <iivls'r>n among yachtsmen of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve. Mr. Oeorge also thanked his brother officers and committee and all who had helped to make the past season a record one. He concluded bv requesting hU Excellency to present the prizes.

The Past Season. The following were the prize winners : : — November 20—Opening Cruising Race (Mr. J. H. Prater's prize) : Tangaroa 1, Tawera 2, Ngatoa 3. Harbour Race, M class: Mawhitl 1. Manene 2, Manaia 3

December 11—Harbour Race, Ist division (Joseph Butler's bequest) : Ariki 1, lorangi ~> N S* toa 3. Harbour Race, 2nd division : Waione 1, Altair 2, Mahaki 3. Harbour Race, M class: Manene 1, Maranita 2, Maroro 3. / December 18—Harbour Race, M class: Mararoa 1, Mercedes 2. Manu 3.

January 22—Haroour Race, Ist division (Macky Memorial trophy and N.. L. and Rear-Commodore Macky's prize) : Rawene 1, lorangi 2, Ngatoa 3. Harbour Race, 2nd division (Vice-Commodore M. K. Draffin'e prize) : Windward 1, Tawhlrl 2, Marangi 3. Harbour Race, 3rd division (Mr. Justice Northcroft's prize) : Anita 1. Kotuku 2, Mahaki 3. Harbour Uace, M class: Maranita 1, Maroro 2, Mercedes 3. February s—Harbour Race. Ist division (Governor-General's Cup) : victory (Mr H. J. C. George) 1, lorangi 2, Moana 3. Harbour Race, 2nd division (Johnson Cop) : Tawhlri 1, Tangaroa 2, Little Jim 3. Harbour Race, 3rd division (Commodore H. J. C. George's prize) : Rarere 1. Medina 2, Perl 3. Harbour Race, M class (Drysdale Cup) : Mercedes 1, Manu 2, Manoa 3.

February 11—Night Cruising race to Kawan (Admiral Blake trophy) : lorangi (Mr. D. Nathan) 1, Moana 2. Tainui 3, Windward 4. Night Cruising Race, motor yachts) : Tirl Moana 1. Raira 2.

February 26—Cruising Race to Te Kouma (T. M. Alexander Memorial Cup) : Mahaki 1, Moana 2. Victory 3, Ngatoa 4. Harbour Race, M class: Maroro 1, Manu 2, Manoa 3.

March 12—Cruising Race. Ist division (Rear-Commodore Macky's prize) : Tamatea 1, Walomo 2, Victory 3. Cruising Race. 2nd division (Mr. A. K. Gifford's priw) : Mahaki 1, Tangaroa '-'. Medina 3. Harbour Race, M class: Manu 1. Manene 2, Manaia

March 26—Harbour Race, let division (Goldie Trophy) : Moana (Mr. A. Miller skipper), 1, Arlki 2. Tawera 3. Harbour Race. 2nd division (Berthon Barrel) : Tainui 1. Altair 2, Windward 3.

April 9 —Harbour Race, M class: Manaia 1, Maranita 2. Mann 3.

April 23—Final Cruising Race (Mr. J. R. Johnston's prize): Waiomo 1, Ngaton 2. Moana 3. Harbour Race, M class: Mawhiti 1. Manoa 2. Maroro 3. M Class Championship: Mann (Messrs. Chamlverlln and Goodfellow) 1, Manene (Colin Dennes) 2.

Governor-General's Address. On completion of the prise-giving hie Excellency Lord Galway congratulated Mr. George, officers and members of the club on the success of the past season. Ho greatly regretted that he had not been able to take part in the squadron's regatta at Kawau and the invitation to sail in Mr. George's yacht Victory. However, he hoped that next year he might be more fortunate in this respect and be able to take a more personal interest by their fine sport. It had always given him pleasure to see the large number of Aueklanders who had a love for the sea. The war of tre future would be a war of experts. Their knowledge of the sea, continued his Excellency, had great possibilities in time of peril, and he recommended yachtsmen to become associated with the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve, so that they could acquire even more expert knowledge, and so be of greater service to their country. In the last war he understood many skilled yachtsmen fought in the trenches when they could have been better used on the sea. If ever another war should come our power would be greater if we could put our experts into the correct position immediately after mobilisation. Viscount Jellicoe was the greatest Governor-General New Zealand had known and be had the respect and love of all yachtsmen. His guiding spirit in life, said his Excellency, had been service, and present-day yachtsmen, he felt sure, would never forget Lord Jellicoe's pood example. Their best way to keep these seas pacific, in more senses than one, concluded hie Excellency, was by being prepared. Mr. M. K. Draffln. in proposing the toast of "Kindred Clubs," said that all of these clubs were doing good work in fostering the sea sense in their members, wbo would be found ready to serve if required. Their close association with the Navy was also very relpful. Commander Palmer acknowledged the toast on behalf of the sister clubs, and said the association had already held a meeting of the comnwdores and other representatives of each club, v;ho had given his suggestion to form a yachtsmen's division of the Royal Naval Volunteer Reserve their hearty approval. A first-class musical programme was rendered during the evening under the direction of Mr. Harold Baxter.