YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1108, 22 April 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Mainsheet.] To-day.—Race for trophies presented by Motor-Boat Club. "As Slow as a Wet Week." It is a fact that the Harbour Board's dredge, which is at present and has been for the last two yacnting seasons, dredging' at the Boat Harbour, dees not improve its beauty. A very old saying suits the occasion: "It is as slow as a wet week." If the dredge would "get a move on" and get out of the harbour, tho yachts and launches would have a chance to settle down in their proper places. At present tho ■ yachts are scattered everywhere, and some yachtsmen experience a great deal of difficulty in getting away from their moorings. Some Fleet Gossip, ' Mr. Cooper has disposed of his launch to Mr. Holland. Last week Mr. "Ted" Haunan's liunch returned to AVellington, after a prolonged stay at Pictou. . Although the Port Nicholson Yacht Club puts on races for third-class yachts, the entries are very poor. Out of the seven third class yachts, only two competed in a race recently. It is rather regrettable that owners of third-class yachts do not race them, as this class should be pushed on as much as possible. Sundays of late have been ideal days for cruising, and a large number of yachts have been taking "advantage of the conditions being so. Lowry Bay has been a popular pleasure resort during the past teason, and one Sunday there were no fewer than 15 yachts at anchor there. A telegram received this week from Auckland states that his Excellency Lord Islington has intimated to tho commodore of the Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron his intention to present a challenge trophy for competition. A new launch of considerable speed will probably be put in the water here shortly.

To-day the Port Nicholson Yacht Club will hold a race for trophies presented by the Motor-Boat Club.

Yachts Collide. The yacht Eawene, whilst lying at her moorings in the Boat Harbour on Monday evening hist was run into by Mahaki: The yachts at the southern end of the harbour, are ,very close. together, and, in. tho night, navigating a yacht to her lnooriiigV'rainires care. Tho bowsprit of Mahaki went right through tho deck-house of Rawene, nearly lifting it off. _ This is the second lime that Mahaki has collided with Rawene. The work of preparing the deck-house is well advanced, and will probably be finished to-day.

The Viking. The Governor (Lord Islington) received a demonstration of welcome on a recent Saturday afternoon from the Auckland Yachting Association and the New Zealand Power Boat Association in honour of his appearance as a yachtsman upon the waters of the Waitemata. Afterwards the vice-regal yacht ran down the harbour as far as the Bean Rock lighthouse. Lord Islington is delighted with the sailing qualities of the Viking, and he has planned an all-night fishing cruise, on which he will be accompanied by Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield; commodore of 'the New Zealand Royal Yacht Squadron, Captain Shannon, A.D.C., and probably the Hon. Joan Dickson-Poynder.

Oversea Notes, One of the chief incentives to big yacht racing at Boston (America) during the eoming senson will be the Commodore Clark Gold Cup for an ocean race for schooners, from New' London to Marblehead. The cup is lOin. in height, and becomes the property of the yachtsman winning it three times. It is rumoured (says the "English Yachtsman" of March 2) that his Majesty King George has some idea of having a new racing vessel built next year, and in that case the boat would be of medium size, and take part in the principal regattas round .the coast in 1012. In due course this yacht would pass into the possession of the young Prince of AVales when he offers himself for election to the Kpyal Yacht Squadron, it being n iaw of this exclusive body that no one is eligible for election except the bona-fide owner of a yacht. The Royal Yacht bquadron was established all but 100 years ago by fifty yacht omers at Cowes. •

Yachting-A School Sport. Recently Major C. W. Campbell placed before the committee of the Royal yfackt Uub, Sydney, tho outlines of a scheme by which he proposes to interest the'public schoolboy in tho sport of yachtiii" and at the same time give him before he actually goes on board a yacht a thorough grounding both, in the primary essentials Of the sport and such other matters as would be requisite should ho intend entering the navy. The main outlines of the scheme (says the "Australasian") are as follow:—1. That the headmasters of the tjnblic schools be invited to confer upon the proposal that facilities be afforded to their boys to equip themselves with the knowledge requisite to lit them for entering upon a career in the Australian navv. 2. That the R.Y.C.V. (and such other of the yacht clubs as might wish to take up the scheme) should undertake to receive from eight to twelve pupils from each of the public schools for tuition (in addition to such practical yaehHiic nxwr -> as is mentioned later), in knotting, lashing, rigging, the working mm of boats (theoretical) and sailing, in the use of the compass, and in the prevailing wind and weather conditions in Australian waters in general, and Port Phillip in particular. 3. Such tuition to take place out of school hours, and to be supervised by a qualified instructor, classes to be held at such place and time as may bo determined upon. 4. Each boy to be asked to agree, with the consent of his parents, to indenture himself, say, for three years, the first two whilst at school, and the last after he has left. 5. In order to give the boys practical experience in sailing, members who have their boats in commission to accept as a portion of their crew these boys. G. No boy to bo allowed to join unless ho volunteers. 7. All boys to be compelled beforo joining the class to have a proficiency ccrlificato in swimming and life-saving under a competent examiner. 8. All boys desiring to enter the class to apply through their headmaster for inclusion in the class to the club secretary. 0. All yacht clubs to be invited to join in the scheme. 10. That an estimate be obtained of the probable actual cost of the scheme, and that to met this the amount bo canvassed for, Snd a guarantee obtained from gentlemen interested in the sport that they would contribute an amount each year, for, say, three years, to cover expenses. After that date the scheme would probably be self-supporting, or nearly so. 11. The object of the scheme is to provide eventually gbod, young, energetic, trained crews for our yachts, thus furnishing a training ground for our future naval officers.