YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVI, Issue 73, 23 September 1938, Page 5

YACHTING

< REVIVAL OF INTEREST

ROYAL PORT NICHOLSON

CLUB

A year of success in every way is reviewed in the fifty-fifth annual report of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, to be presented to the annual meeting next Tuesday. The report reveals increased membership, a small profit on the year's working, and a revival of interest in yachting generally.

The report mentioned the success of Kitty in the Sanders Cup contest, that boat sailed by Mr. N. D. Blair having retained the cup for Wellington. The visit of Impudence to Hobart was also mentioned as something worthy of note, as the yacht, sailed by Mr. C. D. A. Highet, gained four firsts and a second in seven starts.

"The Wellington Harbour Board, in accordance with its policy of doing what it can for the betterment of the club, fulfilled a promise by building two sheds to accommodate 14-footers,' said the report. "These sheds •were completed towards the end of the yachting season, and consequently were not in demand at that time. With the aDproach of the new season it was hoped that the sheds would be fully occupied; it is therefore a matter of regret to the committee that at present only four of the racks are in use." Racing during the season was keenly contested and entries on the whole were satisfactory. The keelers raced in two classes this season. The entries were rather poor, but the forecast for next season was bright. Ailsa was congratulated on winning both the championship and aggregate, having withstood the challenge of recent additions to the first-class fleet. Maranui also performed meritoriously by winning the second-class championship and being runner-up for the aggregate, which was won by Seabird. Amongst the 14-footers racing was again keen, Vanguard winning both the championship and aggregate. The Idle .Along class provided the keenest racing of all, the number of starters increasing from three in the previous season to seven. Vampire won the championship and also the Jessie Logan Cup which was presented to the club during the season by Mrs. and the Misses Dixon and allocated by the committee to this class. The Evans Bay Yacht and Motor-boat Club challenged for the Blair Shield but after a very close contest the Port Nicholson Club retained the trophy. It' was hoped that both Plimmerton and Paremata Clubs, as well as Evans Bay Club, would be challengers next season.