YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1704, 22 March 1913, Page 12

YACHTING.

I [Bi MAlN'sbbet.] COOK PAGENT & COMEDY. Easter Monday,' March 21—P.N.Y.C. Pic,nio to Somes Island. A Superb Jest. Thb. Matangi . oovered herself with glory on Saturday last and added yet one more feather in her cap for the excellent manner in which she took the part of the Endeavour in the gala at Lyall Bay. It was a difficult part to play, but the Matangi had evidently been studying it for', spmp timo as 6lip acquitted herself like a professional coming up the bay in a stately manner- with the true deepsea roll on—much; what one would have expected from tho Endeavour. Arriving at anchor something, that sounded liko "crackers" l were exploded on board.' Why didn't they borrow the P.N.Y.C. starting cannon? The subsequent landing of tho party in a' long" boat iihd a' dinshy was too funny for words. The spilling of the stately Cook and Jiis indignant pig into' the briny, i although unrehearsed. was worthy of - a master comedian, in the case represented by the sea. A Boat Harbour Budflet. . ' , TKo Matangi is leaving for an extended cruise to the Sounds over Easter. Mr C.' J. Ward,'secretary of the P.N.Y.C. is making, the trip, but Teturping. for the picnic of his 1 club on Easter Monday. The White Heather ■ again win's: the aggregate points prize in the Wellington .Cruisjiig Club with 16 points, the Rona, with 15 roiiits, being/second, and the Kotiri third with 11, Ailsa 13. It was a good contest on' Saturday; the Eona finishing first. White Heather a few minutes behind and Ailsa next. Some very good racing has; taken > place_ ■ between these boats tliia season as will be seen from the points scored by each boat. The: Wellington Cruising Club held a most enjoyable picnic at Tjdwry Bav. on S-.mday last in perfect weather.. Races were run on the beautiful beach- and everyone tried their hdrdest to, enjoy themselves—and succeeded. '

Mjr remarks last week pn Iho elections, referred, of course, to the. Harbour Board elections which take place _ on April 30. Four members aro. olected in "Wellington on "that date and two at tho Hutt and Petono. It is to be hoped that yatchsmen at Wellington and Pptono will do their duty, on that day and register their votes in favour of the candidates favourable to yacliting interests. It is. hardly necessary to remind: Yachtsmen of tho event of tho year on Easter Monday, to wit, tho P.N.T.C. picnio to. Somes Island. It is to be liojjed that flue weather will , prevail when it is sure to be a sucoess. . . The smart littlo packet Taipara is reported to bo on the market again. It is understood her owners aro contemplating tho purchase of a 1 larger vessel. A Cup Race and Some Others, • It is hard work following the turns of ■ tjio cable man, and in no way is this better illustrated than in'the case of the America Cup challenge. Tho latest news to hand is that Sir Thomas Lipton's challenge has been refused by ■ tho New York Yacht Club on tlio grounds that Sir Thomas had attaohed a condition to the challenge that neither boat wgs to exceed 75ft. 1.W.1, afcasurement. This will : be rather disappointing to yachting enthusiasts, tut wo can only • hope that tho difficulties will bo smoothed over, and that tho contest will eventually taloe place. It will bo remembered that Sir Thomas's first proposal for a race between a smaller typo of boat was refused on the grounds of conflicting wjth tho terms of the deed -of 'gift. Moro cheerful news as to the challenge will be anxiously awaited by yachtsmen everywhere. A writer in the "New Zealand Yachtsman" seoms to be inclined to throw cold water on Messrs. Marks and Davis's idea of an ocean raco across the Tasman Sea, viz., from Sydney to Auckland. I don't .know why ho need do-this. His objection isoems to be that it would bo much more feasible if a class of one design boats were built to compete in an inter-colonial contest. While this is admittedly a gplcndid idea, "JJdinsheet" is unablo to see what injury tho .racing of boats that aro at present in existence will do to thesa "one design" boats that aro at present "only in tho air," so to 6peak. There aro at least half-a-dozen boats in Sydney, according to tho "Yachtsman," that mmht enter for this raco, viz., Oulwulla 11, Sayonara, llawhiti. Spindrift, Whito Wings, Dr. Scott Skiving'e ketch, and Dr. M'Corraick's 10-ton auxiliary cutter (being built).

' Naturally such a race, would bo one partaken in by wealthy people who could afford six'weeks or two months' holiday from business. I think, with average weather conditions, five or 6ix weeks would be ample for the return trip, allowing a fortnight each way, and the remainder to turn round in at Sydney. : It is surely going a little for, as tho writer in the "Yachtsman" lias it, that "from two to three months" would be required for this event. At any rate, it is exceedingly pleasant even to talk abont such a competition, and we must look forward hopefully to our leading yachtsmen representing this Dominion in tho .worthy manner that everyone is sure they will do. In any caso, if yachtsmen on both sides of tho Tasman kea have tI)Q tjmo and tho boats, and aro prepared to race, jt is surely blameworthy to sxttenipt to preyont them on tho score that "they afe not n ono design class."