YACHTING.

Evening Star, Issue 13123, 2 December 1908, Page 3

YACHTING.

[Bv Spin’akeb.]

Things in vacating circles have been ve.ry quiet luring the past week. Now that the different clubs have declared their seasons open there is a lull, and the next item of interest will be the first of the club races,’ which takes place on the 12th December, when I expect to see big entries in all classes

Wiseman took the Petrel to Port Chalmers last Friday afternoon for repairs. I trust to see her readv and her crew in good trim for the 12th.

Tile Rambler is on Davis’s slip for repairs after her accident at the Heads. It ;s to be hoped her owners will again join the duo and give this old craft a chance in the cruisers’ race.

Ihe Doreen has changed hands. Mr Tcm Burt having purchased her. Yachtsmen will be pleased to have him once more amongst them.

The Carina is at last off the slip, onlv ♦he rigging now remaining to he done. Saturday ought to see her under way again. "

1 he Pera and Gem are painting up and making themselves spick and span. The end of the week ought to see them off. On .Saturday afternoon the Roma had the misfortune to carrv away her stick when rounding Grassy Point. One of those puffs so well known to yachtsmen struck her, and snapped the mast below the crosstree.-. Skipper Dodgshun got his anchor out in double quick time, and stopped her from drifting on to the banks. The Waterwitch kindly came to the rescue, and finally a launch took the disabled craft safely to her moorings in Broad Bav. The rearcommodore went down in his launch on Monday evening and towed her to town. The Verona joined the lists of unfortunates this season by capsizing off Cemeterv Point last week-end. J

The Port Chalmers Sailing Club were rather unfortunate as regards the weather they had for their opening day on Saturday. Otherwise the ceremony was very pleasant and successful. The season was too far advanced to go in for an opening, ceremony on a large scale, and this accounts for sister clubs not being asked to render their usual willing assistance. The boats ail started on the first of their series of races, but the wind suddenly increasing to a gale led to the races being abandoned. Mamie and Puritana were not prompt enough in getting their sails in, and the crews were penalised accordingly by having to perch on the weather gunwales until friendly assistance conveyed them to the congenial shelter/of the club shed and afternoon tea. The lady visitors were out for trips in the motor launches, bur their more certain means of propulsion enabled them to regain the shelter of the shed before the sailing crews.' Commodore Asher dispensed the hospitalities, and succeeded in making everyone pleased, despite the curtailed excursions. Messrs W iceman, Percy, and Knewetubb were noticeable amongst dd supporters,, and the club must be congratulated-in again securing the active assistance of Mr H. Cameron. Mr E. H. Clark, M.P., performed the opening ceremony, and wah very popular amongst the members. Altogether the prospects of a successful season are very promising. J The annual meeting of the Broad Bay Regatta Committee has been held. Messrs Wood and M’Keegan have- been appointed joint secretaries, and in these able hands the success of the' regatta 'is assured.Mr

Hanlon has been elected president, and Messrs Gooch and Morris have been asked to fill t)ie positions,of vice-presidents. Mr L. Warren will be responsible for the £s. d. Tho Committee, of, last; year, and yachtsmen generally, are under: an obligation to Mr -S. Wood, their late secretary, for the successful manner in I 'which he owned out the numerous .dpties. of last year's regatta; his balance-sheet shows a credit balance of soma £3O.

Last season Sir Thomas Lipton offered a perpetual challenge cup, valued at £250, to be competed for by the yachtsmen of Australia.* As there were already the Sayonara and Northcote cups for interstate competition, it was thought the new cup would serve no useful purpose. A reply to this effect was sent to the generous doner, expressing thanks for his kind offer. Sir T. Lipton has replied to the different Royal clubs asking to be allowed to give a cup to bo won outright. The Royal Yacht Club of Victoria have accepted the offer. Two 30ft launches, built to the order of the New Zealand Defence by Bailey and Lowe, are now on the slips ready, for launching, and were to be put into the water on Monday. The cabins are neatly finished with natural-grained kauri and rimu. varnished. They are upholstered in white. The launches are fitted with 12 horse-power Thorneycroft engines. The destination of one launch is Lyttelton ; the other will remain in Auckland Harbor. Quite a number of the yachts have recently procured suits of sails-from the local makers, Thomson; and Sons. This firm have rigged out the Petrel, Thelma. Leader, Trex, Ventura, and Nell. The Thelma had “ ’em all on ” the other Sunday, and looked a picture as she glided across Broad Bay with mainsail, jib, and staysail, jib topsail, and topsail all drawing. The secretary of the O.Y.C. has received a wire from Professor Scott notifying that he will not be able to compete in the Ocean Race. The reasons given are that the course is too short, and that the date clashes with the Lyttelton regatta. As the Rudder Cup was given to the 0.Y.C., it is only natural that the course most suitable to Otago yachts would be chosen, and I have no hesitation in saying that the Oamani course is the best. As for the date clashing with the Lyttelton regatta, well, all I can say is that it is highly improbable that any Northern or Southern yachts will compete at that regatta after taking into consideration past experiences. I am very sorry that the Yvonne will be a non-starter, but I must say that the Otago Yacht Club have done the right thing in making the course to Oamaru and back. To have made the course to Lyttelton would have been as good as presenting the cup to Professor Scott, as there would probably have been only one starter from Dunedin. The types of boats suitable for Otago Harbor are not of the Yvonne breed, and Professor Scott appears to have forgotten this in his haste to have the race to Lyttelton.