YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1067, 4 March 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Main-sheet.]

To-day—Ocean K:ico for First-class Yachts only. Easter Monday—l'.N.Y.C. Picnic. Ocean Race This Afternoon. The ocean raco to he hold this afternoon has aroused a good deal of interest among yachtsmen. This is, it is stated, the first big ocean racc that has boon held in Wellington. The race will commence at 2 p.m., and the course will bo from the Clyde Quay Wharf to Guards Cove, Port Underwood, and back. Sir. Jackson's launch, Taniv.'ha, will be anchored in the Cove, and tho yachts will round her. The total distance is about 100 miles, and the first prize is a silver cup, valued at .£'lo 10s. There is no restriction in regard to the number to bo carried on the yachts, and, so far, nothing has been dono (at least at the time of writing) in regard to provisions. Tho secretary of the club notifies that all yachts are to carry a life-belt for eafh of tho crew. The following' yachts are competing:—Mahina, White Heather, Windward, Ngaira, Viking, Siren, and lolanthe. General Topics.

Last Saturday was by no means a suitable day for yacht racing, and these who ventured out were real "sports." The races did not bring forth many starters, as tho howling "southerly" and rain were not at all inviting. The first-class yacht race was won easily by Siren, she finishing lTJmin. ahead ■of Mahina. Mahina was delayed considerably at tho start, as she was compelled to put down another tuck. Tho second-class yacht raco is to bo re-sailed, as somo of the yachts did not turn out, while others retired from tho race. May won tho third-class race. To Rliuna was delayed at the start of this race, as sho was compelled to reef. Whilst manoeuvring round tho Boat Harbour on Saturday afternoon last, tho scow Winifred capsized. No damage was sustained, however, and the crew woro none the worso for their unexpected "ducking." Ivaitare, scow, has a new _ mainsail, which is bigger tha.ii any sail carried by the scows in tho T3oat Harbour. Messrs. Forbes's and Bothamlcy's yacht Muritai is expected to return from tho Sounds this afternoon. The launches Veronica and Scotia will probably return to-day. On Saturday next the race for the InterClub Challenge Cup, between tho To Aro Sailing Club and the Heretaunga Beating Club, will bo raced for.

Sounds Cruising. The following is an account of a recent cruise of Messrs. Jlooro Bros.' yacht, Mahina, in Polorus and Queen Charlotto Sounds. The crew consisted of tho following:—llcssrs. W. and P. Moore, J. Forbes, and H. Scott. Ono of tho crow who supplied tho narrative states:—Wo left the Boat Harbour on the afternoon of February i. 'l'ho intention (says tho narrator) was to bo away for a fortnight. As tho tido in tho Strait was uot suitable on the day of sailing, wo ran into Seatorin for tho night. During the night the yacht Ethel arrived, also "outward bound." At 4.15 a.m. wc were under way again. Slow progress was made down to Black Hock, there being little or no wind, and wo lay rolling about there till 8.15 a.m. After a while a southerly breezo came down, and freshened up very quickly. When off Island Bay wc hove to, put down two reefs, and took the staysail off, making her Quito comfortablo for the run down. Sinclair and Terawhiti rips wero navigated, without taking any sea aboard. The sea in tho Strait, as it happened, was steady, and tho yacht kept running in good style, enabling us to pass Komaru Head at 11.15 a.m. Tho water was very broken here, and, whilo running down the northern entrance to Jackson Head, Iwo sighted tho Wirangi going info tho So.und close .under Komaru. Tho wind across , tho. entrance was a difiicnlt one, and, at times, tho boat required tho helmsman's best attention, as wo wero running by tho lee. After lowering tho peak and easing lier up, wo cleared Jackson Head at noon,' and ran into fairly smooth water. We arrived at Polorus Sound at 2 p.m. on February 5, and had dinner, as tho wind had dropped considerably. After dinner wo shook out tho reefs, put in when crossing tho Strait, put on the staysail, and headed for Eiuslio Bay. It had taken us exactly nino hours from tho Black Eock.

The French Pass and After. Next day we went through' the French Pass en route for Nelson Harbour, reaching the latter placo at 3 p.m. Wo subsequently went ashore to have a look round "Nclsontown." On Tuesday morning wo again went ashore, taking a drive to Brisjhtwater, which occupied the wholo day. Sext morning saw us up early as we purposed going on to Astrolabe. A light "northerly" saw us out of the harbour, but this did not last lons, as, viry soon, it began to freshen up from the N.E. During the afternoon we arrived at our destination, and the scene well repaid the arduous vigil of the cruise. The numerous bays, with their golden sanded beaches, and the thick green native bush, looked pretty enough to please anyone fond of a quiet retreat. After tea we journeyed ashore, and visited the camp of a "Mottieka party and besides inspecting -several old caves. "Rowed Right Into the Bush." Next day we took in a supply of water, and left for Torrent Bay, situated further up the coast, arriving there at noon. After dinner we all got into the dinghy and rowed to a lagoon, which is situated at the top of a bay. A stream which Howed into this lagoon enabled us to row right into the bush. On our way up we saw a lot of cattle being brought in for milking by two men in a sailing boat, the cattle swimming in front of the boat. St. Elmo Bay and Elsewhere. At G a.m. next day we got under way again for the French Pass, with a light breeze, which held until tho evening and then dropped. Soon after a fresh S.W. breeze set in, so wo set our spinnaker and ran through the Pass. At about 9 o'clock wo made Admiralty Bay, where we anchored for the night. A fresh S.E. prevailed next day, so wo made; for the Portage, Pclorus Sound. On' the way the wind freshened considerably! and this necessitated reefing. Tho night was spent in St. Elmo Bay, and, in the morning, we were visited by a resident of the bay,, who showed us over his property. Wo left for Nydia Bay at noon, arriving thero at 3 p.m., having rather an exciting run down the channel, which convinced tho most ardent sport aboard that it can indeed blow in the Souuds. A visit was paid to tho bush next day, and tho crew had a good view of a log-hauler at work. ' Among the Beauty Spots. Early next morning wo left for Tennyson Inlet, 'which was reached at f p.m., the light winds which prevailed delaying our passage. Tho crew agreed that this was one of the prettiest places in tho •sounds, and fishing and shooting wero plentiful. After spending the next morning there we left for Deep Bay, at middav, and .arrived there at 7 p.m. Next day we left Deep Bay with a N.W. breeze, and a free sheet. Jackson Head was passed at 3.25 p.m., and, for a while, we Kept company with the s.s. Pateena, bound for Picton. Bay of Many Coves was reached at 10 p.m., and we anchored off the camp of a party of friends. We left next morning for Tc Awaiti, Tory Channel, arriving there at 2 p.m. A very pleasant evening was spent with one of the whalers. Tho following morning saw us up early, as we were leaving for home at noon. Homeward Bound. Thero being a light breeze at noon wo hove up anchor and started for Wellington. The yacht Muritai was entering tho channel, as wo cleared it at 1..', p.m., with a light S.E. breeze. For (wo hours' the tide was againstus in the strait, and at (i p.m. wo were off Sinclair ITead. From R p.m. until midnight wo only made Lyall Bav, when a N.K. breeze came down, and at 3.3fl a.m. we were at our moorings at tho Boat Harbour, a tired but happy crew.

In Vermont, United States, the experiment has been.successfully tried of allowing prisoners to go outside the gnol alone and work without guards, trusting to their -"prole,"-- •