PONSONBY BOAT HARBOUR.

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

PONSONBY BOAT HARBOUR.

WORK NEARING COMPLETION. The boat harbour at St. Mary's Bay is nearing completion, reported Mr. D. Holderness to the board this week. The steel bridge to connect the outer wall with tlie mainland is the last link and this is to bo started at once, as the steel is coming to hand and is expected to be completed in two months. There is no reason why clubhouses and boat sheds could not b<> ready by the opening of next season. Mr. Holderness said. Eight acres will be reclaimed and most of this will be solid enough to allow building operations to start within three months, and some of it is already solid. At the invitatiou of the chairman, Mr. W. B. Darlow, interested yachtsmen will be able to participate in a visit of inspection on Wednesday, June 22, and to attend a " conference to discuss the matter of buildings. The most Interested will be the Ponsonby Cruising Club, and as this matter has been before them for a long time no doubt they nave arrived at some decision on the question of, again removing their club room*. This club Is fortunate in having a sum of money In reserve for building purposes, thanks to the foresight of the past treasurer, Mr. 11. K. Arthur. The Richmond Club is not so fortunately placel, -but would be under less expense in moving the present clubhouse on to the outer wall. No doubt in time the Victoria Club, the Heme Bay Club and the Ponsonby Model Yacht Club will consider building on the new site. With an area of eight acres there will be plenty of room for all club-

houses, also areas where boats can be hauled out for the winter and the gear safely stored under cover. This should give a fillip to yachting in the western suburbs.

When this is done it is to be hoped yachtsmen at the e..steru side of the city will get their boat harbour off Paul's Bay, Orakei. an ideal site, but, like St. Mary's Bay, it is shallow and will require some dredging, which can be used for reclaiming near the foreshore, off Tamaki Drive. Speedwell predicts that, in the not too distant future, worth-while clubhouses will be erected on the sea side of the Tamaki Drive, facing the enclosed area, with easy access by land and water. Areas for hauling would be available and the whole kept in parklike order, forming a show place of the city, also, what is better, for all time give great conveniences und encouragement to those who are now In the sport, or others who could readily be induced to join up if offered such up-to-date facilities at the very entrance to the harbour and Gulf.

WINTER SAILING. ROYAL AKARANA'S DINGHIES. The Royal Akarana Club inaugurated their third season of winter racing for suiting dinghies last Monday. There was a steady breeze from the sou'-west and three races were sailed, the finishes being close and interesting. Scram, sailed by K. L. Stewart won the first race from scratch, with P. Mason's Pal second and T. Hurran's Tane third. The second race was won easily on handicap by 1 , . Hutchinson's Pet, with Nelson Patrick in VVeona second and H. Aimer's Scarab third. Only 45s separated the two scratch boats at the finish. Scram was giving Pal 30k, the latter being lfis outside her timP. Tho third race, sailed over one round only, saw Pal beat Scram home by 51s. Swan, l>. Kean, won from Weona, N. Patrick, and W. Cogswell's Wish Wynne third, all close up. The second series will be held next Saturday afternoon. Mr. T. McKnight was starter and judge, and Mr. E. S. Brookes handicapper and timekeeper. PONSONBY MODEL YACHT CLUB. Advantage was taken of the holiday last Monday by the Pousonby Yacht Club to hold a series of junior and senior races, open to allcomers. Good racing ensued, and as the tide is fairly suitable and several trophies are still undecided, club races will be held to-morrow afternoon.

YACHTSMEN'S SERVICE. VALUE IX TIME OF XEEJD. Truly, -with such consideration shown to yachtsmen as outlined above, the sport would double its present 3000 devotees and would give a much larger percentage of trained men who could be relied on in times of emergency for, as Viscount Galway said when addressing the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron on Thursday evening, the war of the future will be "a war of experts." Very large sums are spent on equipment for men and machines for land defence. Surely in isueh an isolated sea-girt country as ours, sea service deserves equal consideration. With better facilities for training in all branches of seamanship, lectures and lessons could be given to hunOrods at a time in the art of navigation and the many other matters necessary to turn out well-trained and efficient officers and men. Our men can find do sail yachts with great skill, but the training necessary for real sea service in wartime or preparation Tor war, calls for something far different than the knowledge of how to get the best nut of a boat on the wind, or even handling hor in half a gale. Work on minesweepers and similar craft is a specialised job and requires months of intensive training, as well as practice. In this Britain of the South, if we are to retain our birthright ns Britishers, this will have to bo done, and facilities provided now for yachtsmen who would jump at the chance to be taught the higher side of sea-training. And they can be found here in thousands if real encouragement was offered them by the expenditure on boat harbours, buildings and the necessary instructors This has been amply proved by the success attained by the present limited facilities or tilO K.^.\ .R.

PRIZE NIGHTS. June 13—Otahuhu Sailing Club. June ir>—Pnnmure Boating Club June 30—Victoria Cruising Club. July 2—Mamikau Cruising Club. July r>—Point Chevalier Sailing Club July 12—Ponsonby Cruising Club. July 28—Devonport Yacht Club. August 6—Royal Akarana Club. August 13—Takapuna Boatine Club. September 3—Tamaki Yacht Club. ANNUAL MEETINGS. June 20. —M*nukau Yacht Club.