YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 118, 14 November 1925, Page 18

YACHTING

■V 'MAINSAIU.'

A START MADE

TWO OPENINGS TO-DAY

NOTES FROM OTHER CENTRES,

The Eoyal Port Nicholson Yacht Club (Inc.) opens its season this afternoon at the boat harbour. Sir John Luke, M.P., will perform the opening ceremony, and later a race is to be held for the "Tauranga Midgets," which will .be the first event of the season. Baces for all classes will take place next Saturday, weather permitting.-. On 28th November, the Evans Bay Club will open its season.

Another opening this afternoon wilL be that of the Port Nicholson Motor' Boat Club, when the president, Mr. F. Kiernan, is to officially declare the season open. An orchestra has been engaged, and the clubroom decorated and arranged for afternoon tea. This evening a smoke concert will be held for members and friends. This season a very fine racing programme has been arranged, which is comprehensive enough to provide interesting events throughout the summer, providing fine weather turns up every Saturday afternoon. The flying start as used last season will again be in vogue over the same course. Most of the launches are now ready.

T» Visit New Zetland,

White Heather 1., the famous racing cutter, which has competed with the King's Britannia at Cowes many times, is to sail out to Now Zealand by way of tho Panama Canal and the islands of the Pacific. She has been bought by Major S. L. Glenister, who, with his wife, Princess ShihadehPaleologos, of Greece, ia about to make a world tour. The yacht is lying at Southwick, near Brighton, and Major Glenstcr, in speaking of his world tour, said: "It is-not a'rumrunning expedition. It is a pleasure trip. Wo are taking in stores and ballast now, and hope to bo away early next month. We are going to Gibraltar^ and then across to the West Indies, then through the Panama Canal, and round the lesserknown South: Sea Islands beforo we touch New Zealand. After that we shall either come straight back or 'carry on-* round the world. It will take us ten months to reach Now Zealand." White Heather I. is only 151 tons, but Major Glenister ridiculed the idea that she was small. "With four picked hands from wind-jam-mers, " he said, "and some help from my passengers, I can take her anywhere." The lofty tapering mainmast has had 40ft cut from its length, and a inizsenmast has been added. V/hite Heather I. is no longer a graceful racing cutter, but a busi-ness-looking ketch. The total cost of the trip, including the purchase price, will be £14,000.

From Evant Bay.

"Jimmy" contributes the following notes from Evans Bay:—The continued spell of fine weather has been responsible for marked speeding up of the work of reconditioning the lboats still on the hard. The launch Trixie and the yacht lolanthe were the first to lea/c the club slip-way, and by the time these notes appear Wairere and Venus will also be in their native element. Romp is also ready, but will probably not go off the hard until next week-end, when it is anticipated a betrer tide will be available. A working "bee" was arranged last week-end for the purpose of examining and re-laying several moorings that have been up on the hard during the winter. A good morning's work resulted in five moorings being put down, so that the respective boat owners can rest assused this season that their craft are well found in this respect. The weather-beaten appearance of the Evans Bay clubhouse has been remedied by the generous offer of one of the members, who has got the work of painting well in hand. His offer has been much appreciated by other members. The opening day of the E.8.Y.M.8.C.i has been set down for 28th November, a little on the late side. The only other date suitable has already been set down 1 for the opening function of a kindred club. - *

A strenuous effort is being made to liquidate the debt on the Bvanß Bay plubhousu. A small amount is still owing, and it is thought desirable to.make an effort to wipe it off so that future income can be devoted mainly to prize money. A generous response is anticipated to the bazaar and art union to be held early in December, when it is Tioped to finally clear the debt. The racing programme of the Evans Bay Club this year will be on the same lines as last season. In addition, it is proposed to hold more picnics, as in the past non-boat owners complained that their subscriptions entitled them to practically nothing. It has now been decided to hold regular outings in the boats. Notes In accordance with the Sanders Cup rules, which provide that challenges must be in on or before 30th November, the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, has forwarded a formal challenge to the Qtago Association. The following selection committee has been set up: Messrs. J. B. Johnston, E. J. Kelly, 6. Hodgson, W. A. Wilkinson, and E. Culhane. The doings of the Jellicoe boats in. the various club events will be followed closely, says an Auckland exchange, after which the best boats will be chosen to take part in the trials.

The Otago Y. and M.B. Association lias decided to ask for further details from the New Zealand Power-boat Association beforo deciding to hold the speed-boat championship on the Otago Harbour during the Exhibition.

Tho Takapuna .Boating Club last week asked the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association to take over the control of the annual contest for the Cornwall Cup. It was stated that now the contest had been started the Takapuna Club would like the association to conduct it on similar lines to the Sanders' Cup race. This year it was proposed to hold the event at Dunediu. Finally the association decided to ask the Dominion Conference, which conducts tho Sanders Cup contest, do hold tho tftoen for the Gurawell Cup at Duucdiu iv IBS 6.