YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1097, 8 April 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Maiksheet.]

To-day—Postponed races for first, second, and third-class yachts. Easter . Monday.—P.N.Y.C. Picnic. Saturday, April. 25. —Race for trophies presented by Motor Boat Club.

P.N.Y.C. Picnic, Easter Monday. Provided the weather conditions aro favourable, this event should count for something in the social. doings of "Wellington yachtsmen—a sort of red-letter day akin to the red-letter day which occurred in racing when the ocean race to Port Underwood took place. Granted fine weather, tho ovent will be something to look back upon, as everything points to its being one of tho most successful functions of its kind ever held in Wellington. It has been suggested that the Easter races to Port Underwood will clash with this event, but that is not so, as the boats, it is understood, will return in time for the picnic. Needless to say, .launches will ba more than welcome, for tho many tows received by yachtsmen in the course of the season renders tho term "launch owner" a very popular one indeed. Now, as to the arrangements for tho day. A strong picnic committee has been set up, and it is hoped, at tlio time of writing, that the permission of tho Health Department \till bo granted for the use of Somes Island for tho day,_ and that alone ought to be a sufficient inducement to many to turn out. In addition., a steamer will bo put on for tho conveyance of friends of members. A sports programme of considerable length has been drawn up, and last, but not least, lunch will ho provided. During the day, it_ is hoped to arrange sailing trips for friends who havo eomo over on the steamer. The onh; thing necessary now is a good attendance', and members should make a point, of bringing many of their friends and relations as is possible.

Easter Racing. The Wellington Cruising Club has concluded arrangements for the proposed race to I'ort Underwood at Easter. Tho yachts will make a start early on the morning' of Good Friday, and, If the

wiiul is favourable, they should arrive there about midday. Tho competitors for I lie raco arc: —Rona, scratch, White Heather, 20mm northerly, and 30 mill, southerly wind; Kotiri, Ssmin. northerly or southerly wind; Ngaira, 111) mill, northerly or 125inin. southerly. On arrival, arrangements will ho made for a race home, and the yachts will endeavour to be back in port in time for the P.X.Y. Club's picnic. As far as can be ascertained, six of the l'.Y.N.C's ileot. as well as Ihe Cruising Club's four, have notified I heir intention of going to Port Underwood. Jlr. Jackson has donated .£3 to be raced for by the l'ort. Nicholson Yacht Club's boats. ITe is also catering for between GO and 70 yachtsmen at a reception which is Id be held at Takapo Bay, Port Underwood.

Harbour Notes and Projects. This afternoon the Port Nicholson Yacht Club will hold races for first, second, and third-class yachts. The starting times for the races are as follow:— Third-class, 2.-15 p.m.; sccond-cla=s, 3 p.m.; first class, 3.15 p.m. The yachts will use No. 1 course. The skipper of Tangaror was a little slow in his movements when leaving the. moorings at tho Boat Harbour on Sunday morning last. Just, after starting out she charged the brick wall, but luckily no serious mishap ensued. The bowsprit was pushed right through the dolly posts, this being the only damage. It is rumoured that a prominent Wellington yachtsman is about to purchase an Auckland yacht. The Port Nicholson Yacht Club have not been favoured with very suitablo weather for their races, as each week tho wind dropped when the yachts were more than half way round the course. It is hoped that it will hold out for the races for this afternoon, as tho club has still a couple of races to get oil.

Oversea Jottings. The Sydney yatching season which closed recently, was not particularly remarkable. It included no inter-State event. The one that was to have taken place in Port Phillip for the Xorthcote Cup, as everybody knows, fell through. There was no challenge for the Sayonara Cup. The regattas and the clubs furnished the yachts with events sufficient enough, but the racing was, for the most part, between the samo six or seven boats. Eawhiti, not being on the register of the Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron did not, of course, compete in any of that club's raccs. And oddly enough, Culwulla 111, did not succeed throughout the season in securing a place in any of tho Royal's events in which she was a starter. The following gives tho places obtained by the crack yachts throughout tho season:—Yculba, 4 firsts, 5 seconds; Eawhiti, i firsts, 1 second; Culwulla 111, 3 firsts, 3 seconds; Sunbeam, 3 firsts, 1 second; Petrel, 2 firsts, 1 seconds.

International European Festival. The preliminary arrangements for the holding of the first European Festival of International Yacht Racing • (says tho Sydney "Referee") were well iorward when the last English mail to hand left the Old Country. It is intended to hold tho festival in a triennial cycle—recurring ill Great Britain every third year. As will be remembered, it was originally arranged that the first events should be held in the Solent.last year, in France this year, and in Germany in 1812. Tho deatli of his lato Majesty King Edward VII, however, caused the event to be abandoned, and in tho circumstances France in truo sporting courtesy waived her claim to 1911, and thus tho honour of inaugurating tho series of festivals has,, fallen to Great Britain. Tho regattas will be held in the Solent, and the dates decided upon are JUgust 7 and 8. ■ In view of tho fact that the second festival will bo held in Germany nest year to coincido with.-tho twenty-fifth anniversary of the premier German Y.C., the JCaiserlieher Yacht Club, Kiel, the French yachtsmen havo accepted the year 1913 for their -festival. Tho races this year will start off Spithead and finish at Hyde. The programme will bo made up of championship matches for the following classes:—First race, class A (abovo 23 metres), schooners, ketches, luggers, i.nd yawls onlj , .? J Sect)lid'Tace, '23 metres (75.4 ft.) class; third race;. ; ls.metre,;{4;9.2ft.) fourth race, 12 metre (39.4 ft.) class; fifth race, 10 metro (32.8 ft.) class; sixth race, 9 metre- (29.5 ft.) class; seventh .race, 8 motro (26.2 ft.) class; eighth race, 7 metre (23ft.) class; ninth race, G metre (19.7 ft.) class; tenth race, 5 metro (16.4 ft.) class.