YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1037, 28 January 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br. lUinsheet.]

To-day Nicholson Yacht Club pic-

. vmc. - ■; ...... : . ■...'.. .::-, Saturday,' ,'Raco and' ' .'.Harbour.Races,.,'.; ;.. ...-...■ Saturday; 'February 11.—Ladies' Race. Satnrday, February 18.'-P;N.Y.C. Picnic, and Motor Boat Club combined.. ! Saturday, February 25.—Handicap Races for Ist, 2nd, and" 3rd-class yachts. Saturday; March s.—Handicap Races for . Ist, 2nd; ■ and 3rd-class yachts. Easter'' Monday ;---p.N.Y.- Club,' Picnic. Anniversary Day.: A little more wind on Anniversary Day would have'been welcomed by the Port Nicholson Yacht Club. The breeze which prevailed in the morning was barely sufficient to'send the yachts ■ along, but, in the afternoon, a fresh ''southerly" sprang up, arid this enabled the yachts to get over the' water' a .little, quicker.. All tho same, tho scene ■' was a joyous ono for those who..have an eye for theso things. It was a beautiful sight watching the yachts' slowly moving out of tho Boat Harbour and making for tho starting line. When this was reached, they did not. venture far away from it. becauso of the lightness, of the wind. The racing was a success, and the starters woro kept very busy both morning and afternoon. The start of the General Handicap race in the afternoon presented a very pretty sight, there being between twenty and thirty yachts, all together, moving off in the light southerly. . White Heather, Siren, and Mahina got the best of tho start, but were followed closely by Muritai and Atalanta, tho rest of tho yachts coming up in tho roar. On the beat to windward Muritai took tho lead for a while; but Mahina caught her, after taking off her. topsail, which had prevented her from heading up into the wind. Mahina then held her lead until the finish, whilo'Muritai secured and held the second position. In connection with this race.' it may be mentioned that a rather unfortunate. affaiT occurred whilst rounding Halswell buoy. Hero Taiparo collided with lolauthe, tho result being that the owner of tho latter yacht lodged a protest, A meeting of tho'-Racing Committee was held on Tuesday last, and tho protest was considered, the committee deciding to disqualify Taiparo. . Mahina, therefore, takes first place, with Muritai second, and Nancy Stair third. The start of the 11-footers race in tho afternoon of Anniversary Day also niado an. animated picture. As the-gun went olf, the spinnakers of the littlo boats were hoisted, and away they went, with the southerly' breeze fanning them along. In the launch race Mr. Palmer's Waione broke down for about five minutes. If this had not.occurred (and taking into consideration tho close finish between tho Tender .'and the' Waione) Mr. Palmer would no: doubt have won the Tace. Isca did not do very'well on Monday, but probably. it'.was not.her..day. General Notes. It seems that White Heather has withdrawn from the racing rank's;''as 1 ; so far, this season her allowing has beep rather poor. Last season the "Heather", figured largely in the racing ranksi' she is doing very little towards maintaining the reputation which she once undoubt-

cdly had. In both races on Anniversary Day she was left behind, and a yacht (Siren), which of late years has done very little in racing, can apparently beat her. lolanthc also has made a poor shotting in racing this season. A race set down-for last Saturday by the Te Aro Sailing Club had to bo postponed on account of the scow Winifred capsizing. It seems right to mention that a very smart piece of rescue work was effected by tho launch Riiilii and the scow Kaitare, in rendering assistance to tho craft and her crew. Winifred was slightly damaged, and her owners wero kept very busy olfecthig repairs, in timo to get her ready for; Anniversary Day. This afternoon the Port Nicholson Yacht Club will hold a picnic at Kau Bay or Scorching Bay. If tho wind is a "northerly," the picnic will bo held at Scorching Bay, and if a southerly, at Kau Bay. An invitation is extended to tho other clubs to attend tho outing. The yachts will leavo tho Boat Harbour at 2.30 p.m.

Tho Te Aro Sailing Club will hold a race this afternoon for a trophy presented by Messrs. Havill Bros.

A relay race will be held by tho Port Nicholson Motor Boat Club this afternoon.

On Saturday next the Port Kicholson Yacht Club will hold its ocean race.

The Northcote Cup,

( The contretemps (says the Sydney "Referee") that has taken place in connection with the races arranged for tho Northcote Cup in Port Phillip is more than regrettable, for it comes as a sotback to Australian yachting and a blow to Inter-Stato sportsmanship. According to tho reports received from Melbourne, tho weather on Friday, when -ho fhst heat was to have been sailed between tho representatives of Victoria and New South' Wales for the Cup, was boisterous,. there being half a galo of wind blowing, and a big sea running, and the committee of the Royal Yacht Club of Victoria decided to postpone the race, although Culwulla 11. (N.S.W.) was waiting in the neighbourthe starting place, and the skipper of Killara (Vic.) said ho was prepared to race. As a consequence, because Culwulla II bad sailed out to tho Gellibrand Light, where the starting mark was laid, and because tho weather cenditions in his opinion suited his little yacht, Mr. Marks, her owner, decided to withdraw altogether from tho contests, for, as. he pointed out, the committee, on their decision, were bound to again pestpono tho race under similar weather conditions. Certainly it seems, from the accounts, that the committee had gcod reason for desiring to. postpone the race, as it appears their steamer could not effect a landing at the Gellibrand Light, and the Melbourne. Steamship Company had sent them word that on.account of the bad sea running they could not let tho club havo the use of. their tender. But there were other matters to bo taken into consideration. Tho event was Interstate in character, and timo was cf importance. Then the opinions and desires .of the owners, under the circumstances, wero surely worthy of consultation. And since Culwulla II was oh tho spot and Killara preparing to get. there, there was every evidence - that, no matter what was in tho minds of tho committee, the skippers and crews were prepared to race. It is therefore a pity that tho committee postponed tho event in' the manner in which they did. As to Mr. Mark's attitude, perhaps it would havo been better had ho decided to bow to the decision of the committee and remained to race bis yacht for the Cup when and as best ho could; but ' yachtsmen are human, and no doubt the action of the co'nimitteo came as" a great surprise and disappointment to him. The situation that has been brought about is, cs already said, moro than regrettable.

The cup was presented in 1907 by' Lord Northcote, then Governor-General of the Commonwealth.

As a result of the Northcote Cup fiasco, Mr. Marksfs challenger, Culwulla 11, was offered for sale last Monday, and, according to a cable, was passed in at .U'f.O.