YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 19, Issue 117, 11 February 1926, Page 5

YACHTING

(By

"Nereus.”)

Many Wellington yachtsmen enjoyed wonderful holidays in tho Marlborough Sounds during the holidays, but it is doubtful if any had more pleasurable and delightful experiences than fell to tho lot of the crow of tho Oyster, who spent a fortnight across tho' strait recently. A member of the erew has sent "Nereus” an account of the cruise as follows: — Official log of yacht Oyster, cruise from January 16 to 31. Crew: N. D. Blair (skipper), W. L. Watson, R. H. Lattey, 11. W. Lattey, J. J>. McAlister. January 16.—We left at 1.15 p.m. per the Tamaline, having left the yacht at Picton after the Christmas cruise. The crossing was glorious, sunny and warm, with a fresh breeze and hardly any sea running. Some of tho crew wont off to do necessary shopping, while the rest got tho boat alongside the wharf, and saw to watering and stowing gear and provisions. . . . However, we decided to "live on the land.” or, rather, on what we could get with bow and arrow, fish-hooks, etc., in the meanwhile, and write to Wellington about the missing stores. January 17.—We went on to To Pangu Bay, a spot well known to all Wellington yachtsmen for (lie generous hospitality of Mr. and Mrs. Harry Heberley. The settlers in the Sounds are most hospitable all round, but Te Pangu is to most of us the first and last word in hospitality, and a port of call both coming and going. The family were out when we arrived, but came home soon after, and invited ns ashore

to tea, an invitation which wo gladly accepted. In the afternoon of January 18, when the weather had cleared slightly, the whole population of Picton turned out to witness the great race between the Popper (owned by W. Heberley and sailed by H. J. Blick), and the Oyster (owned and sailed by N. D. Blair). The two craft, 22 and 32ft. respectively, tore through the water at top speed, white cascades of water leaping from their bows, but gradually tho Popper drew ahead, her lighter bulk giving her tho advantage against tho drag of tho tide. Her crew yelled at us derisively, and waggled a two-ropo in a most sugges-

live manner over their stern. However, pride ever goeth before a fall, and the vainglorious Popper, in attempting to go too close to tho island in order to avoid tho worst of the tide rip, got a mass of seaweed tangled around her screw. Her opponent drew up and passed her—and also passed a bottle of liquid refreshment to the distressed mariners (so as to make sure of tho result). From then on it was a procession, and tho Popper could not catch up, tho Oyster winning by a length. Amongst the many interesting places visited by the Oyster were Duncan Bay, Tennyson Inlet,’Havelock, Queen Charlotte Sound, Sunshine Bay, and Bay of Many Coves. January 31: Last day of tho trip. The boys came aboard at 6.30 to wake us and take us out to the fishing ground. Six of us fished for over an hour, and caught a bare dozen or so. Wo left under engine, with single-reefed mainsail and staysail, and had a fresh S.E. breeze all the way. There was a considerable jobblc at Tory heads, which we cleared at 12.15. We put in a Ixiard to the southward, intending to keep as clear of the Terawhiti rip as we could, relj’ing on the tide to push us up far enough, which it did. Everything went well, and wo dodged Hie ’worst of the up. There were some pretty heavy sea s running, and wo shipped a “blue ano” occasionally. The engine was stopped just before we reached Karori Rock, and was not started again until we were off Kanaka Bay. Between Terawhiti and. Karori we had a stretch of smoother water, but at Karori it ran high again, and the same thing occurred at Sinclair; but after we passed the latter point', we were "set.” Across Lyall Bay all went well, and we squared awfiy after passing Black Rock, and. ran down the channel for home, arriving at the boat harbour at 6.10. We separated for our various homes, well satisfied with the cruise, and ready

for another ag soon as it could be arranged. Peggy’s Inter-club Cup. No limit was set as to the amount of sail to be carried in the race for tile inter-club cup on Saturday. Peggy carried an extra largo sail, and Cooeo appeared under a really huge stretch of canvas. However, Peggy’s easy win by 13Jmin. was in a large measure due to tho excellent, judgment displayed by her skipper, A. D. Crawford, in tho tliiiky conditions prevailing. Cooee, with her great sail, was made to look a hack, while tlio remainder of the field was nowhere.