With the Yachts

Evening Post, Volume CVI, Issue 108, 3 November 1923, Page 18

With the Yachts

ASSOCIATION BUSY

CANVASSING FOR FUNDS

REGATTA WEEK ARRANGEMENTS.

CLUB EVEKTS. NCVt?!i b ne« lir OJ'- enln?,i Ol R-*-N-Y. Club, Herejffi^ra,club> and Port Kicbolson

(By "Mainsail,")

The Yacht and Motor Boat Association is settling down early to the arrangements for 4he coming season. The anmversary will be of special importance this season, as sportsmen-from all parts of the Dominion will be present, attraut.ed by -the Sanders Cup:races, which are to commence on the following day The .association- » . out, therefore, to make, the fixture the success it deserves and as tfab financial asjXct is one pi the- foremost considerations it is devoting itself at once to, the canvass tor funds. The. association: has a sma ll ba i. ance of cash in hand, but it is estimated that -a.- minimum of £250 will be required to efficiently organise both: the regatta day and Sanders' -Cup bfo! grammes, and the attendant arrancements for the ; entertainment of visitors from other centres. The personal co-o-eration of members of clubs is beir« appealed to m the'first place iriordef to raise the- necessary moneys. Subscription cards have been printed and circulated, and already, several:-active clubmen have secured contributions from personal ■ friends who are interested in the sport and who ..are anxious to see Wellington keep hei- end: up; The cards are of three denomina.t&ns-for contributions of 10s, ss, and. 2s -6d respectively., At. a later stage an. appeal will be made to ; firms in; the-city to subscribe, to the funds. , -.' . . / .^The preliminary arrangements for the regatta;, and the Sanders. Cup. contests are beim explained, by delegates to the .association to general meetings of. the affiliated clubs. . The .wishes and'aspirations oi,the association were briefly outofv iat*:- 0- hefting" of the Evans" Bay Club last Monda-y evening,, the speakers intimating what, was expected in support by individual dubs. All the members present were unanimous in their support and the commodore (Mr. A J' Ibbotson) assured the delegates that the'club would back up the' association and do all in its powei to -successfully carry out the functions. Similar assurances are forthcoming from the other; clubs -The members of the Port Nicholson 'Motor Boat, Club passed a resolution expressing their determination to assist their broth-" er sportsmen, arid at- a meeting Oast Tuesday evening the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club promised-'the necessary assistance to.the association. The Heretaunga Boating Club is also being approached. . ; . . 6 c The association is hopeful of putting on the programme for Regatta Day" a race for launches of 18-knots and over and of offering-, substantial prizes :in order to draw competitors from other ' centres. It is. unererstood there are three or four fast boats at the Sounds which might be-attracted to take part m ) the regatta, and it has been suggested that others might be induced to compete. The association is now considering' the financial question, and the proposal w-11 probably reach finality either one way, or the other,, at an early date. In the old days, of course, the Wellington regatta was, regularly attended. by boats from Auckland and tryttelton, and other outside ports, attracted by handsome trophies -which made it worth while for them to travel such a long : distance to compete. SEASON'S PREPARATIONS.

The .weather has-not been very kind to^yachtsmen m the matter of enabling Int? w g.! eir boats readyfor tbe tt't'T One,P amts » house one likes to be sure the operations will not be interfered with by rain and other vagaries of the elements, and the same ™* «,felt i by yachtsmen and launch owners who have boats on: the slips which they are anxious to place i n .:the water newly painted. The recent .uncertamty. of the: skies has regarded operations on ,some^ of the slips, but most of the craft still high and' dry are now. rapidly nearing Completion, ,and they should be the.better for the 8 ah ,attentlPn given them. All the bpatß that were- upon the Evans Bay Club_ slips: have now entered the water. White Heather, went down last week-end, and it.is hoped rigging will be completed Jn time to givf he? a try-out.this week-end. Eomp was out for a S p m last Saturday afternoon, and looked very .well as she sailed around the bay. Rigging is proceeding on Venus, Nancy Stair, and Wairere! all of which will be under sail at an early date, in time at any Me to make their appearance, at the opening of the other clubs A.number of the Bay boats ™ Probably visit the.Heretaunga CHub on_the opening day of that body, - Work on the centre-boarders at Evans way is booming. Cooee is now undergoing overhaul, but. she requires little attention, and will grace the Bay waters very shortly. Miru is now afloat, and will bo. followed in a few days by Sylvia, now. that the new deck of the latter boat has been: completed. Petrel hasmveßted in'a bigger mainsail:- In her coat 'of. bine she will' look, well when she taKes ta the water this weekend. Kingfisher r has completed herris•ging. ..-.;.' •..•-.■ .-. ;: ,,.i ■ . >

A visitor in -the Bay last week-end' which created much' interest was the 14-foot boat Claire, with Mr. A. Clark at the tiller. Kewpie also paid a visit. Motor-boat owners have not been backward m embarking upon the. hew season. Several boats are still on tho haTd receiving : their final ■ painting-up ' touches and having.engines and other gear attended to, but numbers" of launches ara already appearing on th?. ' harbour. The new, engine installed in Nikau seems to be performing well, io' i the boat is developing quite a nice turn ; of speed. Kakariki is in the water, and. is to be seen streaking about at favourable; opportunities. Swan, Amokura, and Fram.are well in hand,-and ; will soon be afloat. It is expected that both, together with Active, Which is looking very spick and span, will- be - running before the first opening day. iThere are one or two new boats still in course of completion. By the .time I they are in their natural element the ; mosquito fleet will have assumed quite '; creditable proportions. > ' GENERAL NOTES. ". j It has been customary for years past >' for the Royal Port Nicholson tacht Club i" and the Port Nicholson Motor Boat Club ' to combine forces on opening day, but a '> departure from the ruleis to be made- ; this season. ■ Both clubs have decided •to *• open on Saturday next; and the yacht i: club made a suggestion that they should • unite for the. .occasion^ as in former ' years. The motor boat club has intimat- ; ed, however, that this year it will con- : duct its opening separately. ■■■'• ' Mr. W. Duncan, who some weeks ? ago accepted_the'office of handicapper \:- to the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club i has assumed the' additional' respor-S. ' ; | bihty of judge, starter, and timekeef W 9