YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1295, 25 November 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br MiisraiKßTj

AN "OLD HAND'S" CRITICISM,

To-day.—P.N.Y.C. Handicap Races for first and second-class yachts. No. 1 course. W.C.T.C. picnic. P.N.M.B.C. race. Saturday, December 2.—P.N.Y.C. picnic. Saturday, December 9.—Handicap Races for first and second-class yachts. No. 2 course. In Full Swing To-day. To-day will seo the yachting season in Wellington in full ewing. Most of tho yachts aro in tho water, and, given a fine day, some very good results should eventuate in the P.N.Y.C.'s races. It is to bo hoped that yacht-owners will do their sharo towards promoting the welfare of tho sport by entering for and competing in Iho races provided on every possible occasion. Tho club has drawn up a largo racins programme, and yacht-owners should not fail to recognise this. Owners did not do their beat last year as regards racing, and this was one of the main drawbacks to the club.

This afternoon tho Wellington Cruising Yacht Club' is to hold a picnio at ono of the bays, and, circumstances permitting, tho Port Nicholson Motor Boat Club will decide a race. "Old Times arc Changed." Tho foUoTring remarks were made b> a one-time Wellington yachtsman while in conversation with the writer at the Boat Harbour on Sunday morning last:— "I came down here to eeo the yachts go out," he said, "but, apparently, I am in > for, disappointment. They don t seem "'particular wliethbr they go out or not." In singling out the crew of ono yacht iu particular, he said: ' They seem to bo taking turns in rowing ashore. Perhaps they havo got a ne«dinghy? It seems to mo that these fellows spend tho most of tho day in the Boat Harlxmr waiting to seo each other go out. Are they tho same coming in? That this "old hand's" remarks were not exaggerated will bo shown by the following details of the times at which some of tho yachts left their moorings:Mahina 11.10 a.m., White Heather 11.20 a.m., I?ona 11.30 a.m., Ailsa 11.35 a.m.. Siren 11.55 a.m., and the Kamka decided to brave the elements at 15 minutes past noon. , . , . Of course, it is tho yachtsmens business as to what time they get out, but, at the same time, they must realiso that if they wish the general public to take an interest in this sport they must cater for them. Punctuality counts for much in this respect,

The Week-end Cruising Club. Tlio newly-formed Week-end Cruising Club have, thus far, uot accomplished much in tho way of securing accommodation for the week-end trips. Tho secrotary seems to havo met with some unforeseen difficulties in his efforts to materialise the ambitions of the club in this direction. Some place, of accommodation for the members of this club is necessary, for without that, tho venture is not likely to meet with much success. Tho idea of forming such a club, was a really pood one. fov nearly all yacht clubs in tho Dominion go in for weekend cruising. Tho club ought to secure a large whare at one of the bays where members could go in case of bad weather. Classification of Fleet, The Port Nicholf-on Yacht Club's fleet has been classified in the following order (tho official number of each boat is riven in parcnUiPfcs):—First-class: Waitanni (1), Neaira (2), Siren (3), While Ilcather (1). Wnirere (5), Ailsa (C). Miihina (7), Atlanta (8), Murifcai (fl). Totantho (10), Windward (11),. Nancy Stair (12), Trixy (13), Tmxrsroa (N). ' Second-class: Palronus (21), Vikinn (22). Ethel (23). Taiime (24), Isci (23). Itovepe (2G), Mahaki '_*■>• sfn.y (28). Knraka (2!rt. Lizzie (30), Te Bluiiia (31), Amai (32), Xikau (33). The Gossip of the Sheds. Tli" following i s (■],„ Wellington Crnisinpr laclit Mull's programme lor the prerent season:—November 25. picnic; ]V cembe-r 2, handiciip r.ieo; rVcemhcr IC, liiuvdic-Ap rare; January 27, handicap raw; March 2, handicap race; March 1(1, mmlieap race; Easter, 1012, race to the houlh Island. Other rnoes nmv be arranged by thn e.Mimitteo botivcon ChriMjiias and tho end of VYbrnary, but at present no daics are fixed , Iho y.aw] Kthcl si-ems to have dnvclowd into quite a speedy craft this seuson. Rumours arc (.(lont of lifr defeat of some very classy packets. Shi- ccrtainlv is a very much lmprovril ynehl Thn result (1 f ti, t , t:,.,ij sin!r CF«l>'s rare last Katiirdnj- is of speriul intfrej-t in that l. iUlords an opportunity cf comparing tic spiiiMl ol the now arrival Ailsa, with the periormnacr-N of her "sister ship" \\ aircMo. It will lio ro.mnmbered that, in a nice in tho i-.irly pnr L of List scttfon miner very similar conditions, the Wairero deftitcil the \Vhito Heather by tome 3ft f? cu, ,Y \ In Salui-iliiy's rcco the "Heathrr beat (ho A lisa by ■! minutes odd. nils, ui <pito of rumours to the contrary, nialc-s the tWiiiwe out to to a m;:d) fastor boat. A raci> between Ihwo two yaelits would Ix; a vcrv interestins event.

Expressions of opinions as rcj.-irds iho new auxiliary ynnlil whieh Mr, "Ted" Bo.ilfy Ins jnct complied differ soniflwnnt. Some of iho opinions are minted. "Uli, siip's all rishi"; •'[ don't, like the idea ol tin* rudder ]io»l; Ijcincr so lmprotiH'iwl : 'I don't com for lu>r, she loots to) Miiiiliera-nnr." However, nil arguments will pvoliably be settled when ill* lithe vessel is launched. The interior of the yacht is very honre-liko and comfortable. Her o:inin i< very larje, and jives oiin ;inv aiiKiuiil cf room to'\novc aljout In qnoling the above opinions, the writer does not cast nil;,'(inn mi (h,. vorknmnsnip ot tJns well-known ljnilder. butmeivly states the; shod i;ossjn of the dnv. 'the fresh northerly Imi-t.w which prevniled on Sunday last compelled (huso yiulil.- that- ventured on' to reef. The Main na w.i.« mil lor her iir«l. spin this scisnii. ,ind. with a eoiiule of lVi'i's down, she qlideil aloni splendidly, much lo (he sat-i.-f.iction of her crew. Her crew sji.-iit an eajoyalilo outiiifT on ?omcA Maud, and, on the return trip, called nt Thormkm to liriim the P.N.Y.C.'s Luoy lo tho Uoal. Harlwur. A number of yachts were at Scotching Day.