YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 53, 25 November 1922, Page 15

YACHTING.

(By

“Nereus.”)

The Evons Bay Yacht and Motor Boat Club wag favoured with ideal weather conditions for its opening last Saturday, and as a result there was an attendance of dose upon 500. The clubhouse had been decked with bunting find streamers, and the whole presented a scene of gaiety. Many of the club yachts were still on the slips, and consequently the opening was almost entirely a land gathering. Much credit is due to Mr. Roland Wilson for the social success, and also to the club secretary, Mr. H. S. Hannah, for the general arrangements. Visiting yachts included the Marnngi, Galatea, Wylo, Rona, Seabird, Viola,, Windward, Illinois from the boat harbour, and the I rex, representing the Heretaunga Yachting Club. To-day the R.P.N.Y.C. will commence a racing programme. There will be a club handicap for, first, second, and 18-foot and tinder class yachts, to commence at 3 p.m., Z. to p.m., and 3.15. p.m. respectively. A flying start will be adopted, each race commencing and terminating opposite Clvde Quay .Wharf. With a present membership of over ■ 70. about live to ten new members are ' being nominated fur admission to the Heretaunga Yacht Club each week. In last week’s notes it was stated that Mr Berkeley, Clarke’s Marangi had attained a speed of a little over lli knots while racing. Some doubt has been expressed in yachting and shipping circles during the week regarding this statement, hut any doubt might well bo dispelled when it is known, that a vessel under sail has logged, a speed of 21 knots. This question of yacht speeding opens a wide and interesting field for uiscussion, but space will permit of only a brief reference this week, at any rate. This record of 21 knots was put up by the--James G. Bailes, a sailing vessel, op a trip from Boston to Liverpool, around the . north of Ireland. It is not. unusual for small , racing craft to attain a speed of between 15 and 16 knots. This sub- • ject will bo continued next week. Interest in the Sanders Cup'contest is increasing. ' During the week there were rumours that a Real sportsman intended tg purchase a boat in Auckland to represent the ■ Evans Bay Club in J the local trials. ’■ Should this eventuate there will he four candidates in Wellington —Eymn, Poneke, and the new boat. A total crew of six—twd captains and four 1 other men—will accompany the chosen boat to Auckland. This rum- •' her provides for. a light-weather crew and a heavy-weather crew —one captain and two men for each thee. Messrs. McDonald, Jllillman, and Johnston have been appointed a selection committee, and the dates of the trials; courses, and other arrangements will be left entirely m their hands. 'selection of' the crew at. Auckland will be made by members of *he Wellington Yacht and Motor-bcqte Association, who accompany Ufe boat north. T’ftS R.'P.N.Y.C. recently reclassified Mr. T. Petherick’s Kotiri 11. ,z §ho is now a firsticlass yacht, and should „be handicapped for to-day’s facing. . The Wanderer is at present being overhauled at. Evans Bay, and is expected to be in commission again soon. She was launched on Tuesday evening. .. Dunedin seems to be a Jonah so far as one-designers are concerned. Last Saturday the first of the seven, races to select an Otago representative to challenge for the Sanders Memorial Cup was held. There was a strong breeze, and the lonia, formerly the Tomtit, had the misfortune to capsize when in a winning position. The Winifred also turned turtle. The Heather finally won the event, and she now has a lead of four for the points aggregate. At a well-attended general meeting of the Evans Bay Club on Tuesday evening the social committee for the ensuing year was elected, and the arrangements for a children’s Christmas tree were discussed. A substantial sum was collected from members present. and many* toys were promised. The delegates to the Wellington Yacht ’ and -Motor Boat Association made clear the present conditions under which tho Sanders Memorial Cup will be competed for. The meeting was unanimous that a craw to go to Auckland should be eligible for selection' from the three local clubs. On behalf of the R.P.N.Y.C., "Pennant” contributes the following:— "During last Satuidav afternoon Mr. N. Blair’s fine auxiliary cutter Raweno was launched from her slip in Balena Bay and towed round to the boat harbour by the Galatea. Rawene’s mast was stepped on Sunday, and she is expected to be rigged in time to sail in the- first race of the season /next Saturday. On Sunday a hard nor’-wester pre-

vailed, but did not prevent the majority of the “keelers” going for their usual spin. Strangely enough, all the deep-keel boats out'on Sunday anchored under the lee of Somes Island, following the example of the leader, Mr. Charles Neal’s Viola.' During the afternoon the har(l squalls caused a bit of trouble among the fleet. Atalanta dragged her “pick,” and had to be sailed back to the anchorage. Wylo swung round, and got ' unpleasantly close to the rocks, while the Windward rubbed her graceful nose against Wylo and then Marangi. The run home' from Somes Island in the hard breeze was thoroughly enjoyed by all crews, and caused a repetition of the old argument as to which yacht shipped tha least “wet stuff.”