GAIETY ON WATER

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 34, 4 November 1929, Page 12

GAIETY ON WATER

EVANS BAY YACHTING CLUB OPENS White winged craft, proudly riding blue waters, and gaily bedecked with bunting, presented a noble sight at Evans Bay on Saturday, when the Evans Bay Yachting Club opened its season. Young men in disarray, bedecked with gaudy berets or resplendent in yachting garb, invested the gathering with Bohemianism. Even tiny tots wore yachting caps askew. Anxious to join'the circling company on the waters, late-comers worked feverishly on their own craft in dry dock, or performed mysterious ceremonies in sheds bearing strange symbols and designs. Outboard motors, challenging grace with speed, roared past and left a snaky trail in the water. In emulation of sea battles, a reekless crew, with pocketknives in their teeth, sought to board an innocent yacht in pirate fashion, while the grapeshot—in imagination—tore the canvas sails to shreds. Interlocked, the two boats swayed and nearly overturned, and hostilities reached a high pitch when bailers were snatched up to drench each other with water and besoak the flapping canvas. In a formal ceremony in the clubhouse the patron of the club (Mr. A. A. George) declared the season open. He congratulated the club bn the progress it had made and wished it every success. The president of the club (Mr. J. Paterson), Mr. J. Moffatt, chairman of the Wellington Provincial Yachting and Motor-boat Association, and Commodore F. C. Holmes also spoke. Visiting officers were present from the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, Heretaunga Boating Club, Port Nicholson Motor-boat Club and the Plimmerton Boating Club, a number of yachts sailing round to Evans Bay. Afternoon tea was served, and then several dinghy races were conducted. In the evening a dance was held.