YACHTING.

Evening Star, Issue 13146, 30 December 1908, Page 3

YACHTING.

(By Spinnaker.] HIGH-WATER. —Friday.— Taiaroa Head: 10.38 a.m., 11.13 p.m. Dunedin: 11.48 a.m. —Saturday.— Taiaroa Head : 11.36 a.m. Dunedin : 0.23 a.m., 0.46 p.m. —Sunday.— Taiaroa Head: 0.9 a.m., 0.31 p.m. .Dunedin: 1.19 a.m., 1.41 p.m. On Thursday evening the Muritai came ta grief on the voyage to Broad Bay. The wind was blowing strong from the north, with a very heavy sea, and when off Lambert's the doctor saw the Kaituna in distress close in shore, and went to her rescue. Unfortunately a heavy sea broke on board, and the water getting on to the electrical gear stopped the engine. The Muritai then became unmanageable, and was ashore in no time, the heavy seas batteiing her about underneath and washing her cabin off. The engine was taken out on the beach, and on' Saturday the Elswick towed the water-logged wreck to her moorings. Yachtsmen will sympathise deeply with Dr MTvellar over the mishap to his handsome launch, and hope that au examination will reveal the fact that the damage is not so extensive as was at first supposed, and that before long the doctor will have his boat afloat again. The Kaituna, the innocent cause of the accident, escaped without damage.

The Pera is at Oamaru. She cleared the Heads at about 5 a.m. on Sunday, arriving at Oamaru at 6.50 on the same day. She was to leave (weather permitting) for Timaru to-day. The commodore's new boat, the Inishfree, was launched without ceremony or speechifying on Monday evening last. The usual custom of breaking a bottle of champagne over the bow was dispensed with. I have no doubt the champagne found a more congenial resting-place than the briny. We all wish the commodore’s beat a long life and a happy one. The Waitiri and Lavina took her in tow to Broad Bay the same evening. The excitement to boatowners in the harbor the past week was the Port Qhalmers regatta, and although some arfe satisfied—that is, the prize-winners—the majority would have liked to have seen a steady breeze. As it was, it was enough t) break the heart of many steersmen to seen an opponent with a leading wind making for the buoy and himself unable ta get a move forward out of his boat; in fact, in many cases it was astern they would go. “ Spinnaker ” wishes, in the first place, to congratulate yachtsmen on the splendid manner in which all the boats were hi ought to the starting-line. Many hours of hard work with the paint brush could ba easily imagined. The knowing ones, after having a look at the handicaps, made it a sure thing for Anonyma, Vagabond, Tucana, Eileen, and Waterwitch, and as the first two races saw the scratch boat win somewhat easily it looked as if their opinions were worth something; but the handicappers proved that they well understood their work. The First Class Yacht Race saw a keen fight from start to finish, and, putting all luck on one side, the Matua proved herself once again the fastest boat in a light wind, and she may now fairly claim, after three wins, what Dr Mac Donald said she was—the. fastest boat in the harbor—• and one only regrets that the doctor did not strike her trim; nevertheless, Messrs Wall and Co. have done so, and “ Spinnaker ” congratulates them. Waimana sailed well, he'- crew taking every advantage that offered. The Annis showed that she is not a boat to bo trilled with. Tucana disappointed many. May her bad luck change, and first place be her lot at the Broad Bay regatta. A little more keenness on her crew's part may do the trick. The other starters, Petrel and Carina, made a bold fight of it in the first round, but the wind failing put out their only hope. Thelma was in the first flight also in the first round, but. has done better in fluky weather in the past.

The Second Cl:u« saw live Vagabond make no ra'-e of it with her opponent?. A fine tusde took place between The Lass, Result, and Ruru, The Lass gaining second place on time. The Swallow is an ugly boat, but for sailing qualities she proved the best of the unballasted class, even heating the crack Eileen off the mark, and her crew of boys know how to sail her—not a bad fault these days. All the so boats were sailed well, and the last round saw a ding-dong race, a nice steady breeze having set in by this time. The old Nell managed to scrape a win on time in the Third Class Race, and from the keenness displayed by her crew no one grudged them first place. They are after it every time they start in a race. It is a pity they do not go in for an up-to-dater, and have ago at the first class boats. The Viking can do wit.r a larger rig from mast downwards. She finished first, and was nicely handled, but the rig she sailed in would do for an ordinary two-reef breeze. The Waterwitch did not sail up to expectations, but no luck in the way of stray came he- way. The two oid opponents Vision and Vigilant still keep plugging away, but time nas altered things, and now Vigilant receives a small handicap, which enabled her to take first place ir the sixteen-footers. Rear commodore Sn.ith, who had the Vision built for him- - '-It, still showed that he had more' than a passing interest in his old fancy, and on the judges’ boat he fell into the fatal mistake of writing the result: Vision Ist, Vigilant 2nd, and appeared quite hurt when the mistake was pointed out to him. But it was only a case of force of habit. The Cruisers’ Race was one of the features of the regatta. This race was won by the old Auonyma. Goldseeker second, the Adelaide taking third place. Yachtsmen would view with pleasure their old favorites at it

again. The handicappers, Messrs Hazlott, Gallon, and Asher for the yachts, and Messrs Knewstttbb and M‘Pherson for the motors, gave e\ery satisfaction, but there is a wicked uncertainty about the sealed handicap that more often induces profanity than the grateful sensation of virtue rewarded in the average sportsman. But it has one distinctly good point about it—-the competitors aro kept in the race by the “will o’ the wisp” ahead, and the hope that springs eternally yet scarcely ever is .satisfied—the prospect of a mollifying handicap. The sailor generally is a good sport, and whatever ho may feel or say privately he outwardly preserves a stoic countenance when he finds the handicap as usual is much less than he deserves. liven on tho rare occasions when the handicapper proves a man of judgment from the competitor’s point of view there never appears more than a ghost of a smile on the tanned face. The eyes beneath the weather-worn peaked cap flash a little brighter, but the nonchalant, easygoing air is hardly varied. And) so you would hardly have guessed that all tho difference between the glory of victory and the disappointment of defeat lay in the casual question “ What’n our handicap?” The officials all worked hard, but I consider that Mr- E. Knewstubb deserves a special word of mention. On locking through the programme I see Mr Knowstubb judge, nandicapper, starter, member of committee, and other duties too numerous to mention. I would like to suggest that next year Mr Knewstubb be made a vicecommodore in addition to his other offices, j I feel sure all will agree with me that this compliment is the least we can do to reoog--1 nis© his service® in the past. He is a sport 1 in the true spirit, and a jolly good fellow to boot, I would draw the attention of members | of the O.Y. and M.B. Club who have not yet paid their subscription for this season to the rule passed at last annual meeting : that all subscriptions and'blip fees not paid by the 51st hist, will have 20 tier cent, added thereto. The Broad Bay programmes aie now ready, and be obtained from tie eecre*

Lvry .pr - Stuart . interested shouTd: procure' one ynthom?cfelay, so that they may know th<nr numbers kn3| class colors. , The Committee have to disqualify any boat not carrying a number| on bbth -sides of the sail or flying th<4j class colors. The entries are as follows 20-footers, 4; motors three- horse-power and under, 11; first class yachts, 8; cniibersJl s;' second class, 4; unballasted, 7; • third! class, 6; motors over five 10; 16-footers, 4; motors three to five horse-power, 11. It only remains lor me to wish all yachtsmen a Happy New Year, with the earnest hope that a nice steady nor’-easter will be the order of the day for Brood Bay regatta, so that all will .have a good go. May the best boats win.

•'(ss Let men take up Tinna--” said Gene-: ral Baden Powell to a critic,. “ and there will never beiwar, hut if men go sneaking ■■ about • yrith their _ hands in their pockets, the ; enemy will come, and it will then be too late.” ) Mr Lloyd-George is to be presented with the freedbm of the Borough of Flint in recognition of his services in passing the Patents Act, which has 'brought a large German manufacturing firm to that borough. , ■ A bishop, a peer, and a professor are to take part in‘a Coleridge matinee at the Haymarket Theatre, in aid of the fund for purchasing the cottage at Nether Stowey, Somerset, in which the poet Coleridge wrote.