YACHTING NOTES.

Evening Star, Issue 14034, 15 April 1909, Page 2

YACHTING NOTES.

[By .Smnxakeb.]

High Water. Saturday: Taiaroa Heatl, 0.37 a.m., 0.58 p.m. -Dunedin, 1.47 a.m.. 2.8 p.m. •Sunday: Taiaroa Head,' 1.14 a.m.. 1.37 p.m. Dunedin. 2.24 a.m., 2.47 p.m. One thing very noticeable, this Easter was the large number of boats that did not stop the throe "nights down the bay. Perhaps the reason is that they get somewhattired of these week-end trip's, and with tho four clear days feel inclined to ™ further afield. •..'-.".- Now the football season is at liand many ol the yachtcj will bo hauling up for the wiLter. This-is where the ' utility of a motor launch comes in, as i;he can practically be kept afloat the whole; year round. The keel of another motor' boat was Li id during the Easter holidays. Nov,' that Partell brothers have their boat-out of the way, .A. Thornicroft has hired the shed, etc.. and .intends filling-in his winter evenings by building an engine, hull. etc. From his knowledge of boats -something good is "aire to be. '.lie result of his labors. A .successful concert was given' at liroad Bay on Saturday night, the, proceeds of which are to go to jetty improvements. Air (.'. Kumktruin exhibited a-number of views taken by himself while abroad, the yachting views taken on the Clyde and at (.'owes being especially line, while the local yachting pictures were much appreciated. There was a full house, so : the surplus should be a fair one. The motor boat race held at Waihola was mn on Good Friday, the prize being a len-guinea cup presented by Mr J. F. M. Eraser and Mr R. A. Ewing. The course was from Waihola jetty lo'Taieri Mouth lower jetty and back, a distance of twentyfive miles. The bar at Waihola, -is nof.'a pieawuit place at any time, and proved a stumbling block "on this occasion, owing to its shallowness and accumulation, of weeds, which cling to 'the propellers, and. 1 may add, is conducive to much bad laii<ruage. Messrs M'Phcison, Smith, and Nees did the. handicapping, and gave every satisfaction. The. following boats entered : Leda, Nancy. Araby Maid, Vera, Moair.aroa.. Ali started 'save the Leda. which had-a difficulty in starting herengine. Mr Cockburn acted in the capacity of starter ami timekeeper. The race "resulted as follows:—Araby Maid (13min), 2h 58iniin, 1; Nancy (4min), 31), 2; -Vera (lEmin). oh linin, 3. Moamaroa lost all chance, being caught in a southerly on the bar. When once started all the "engines worked well, and the. warmest thanks were expressed by the competitors to the handicappers and Mr Cockburn. This race proved such a success that the promoters have decided to make it an annual affair. As benzine comes into general use it is exceedingly necessary that the greatest care should be taken* in the handling of this dangerous spirit. On Saturday night a party of four were enjoying a launch trip from Kawau to Coromandel, when the benzine ignited, and two men named Taylor and Shaw were enveloped in ilame's. Taylor jumped overboard, and Shaw was thrown over. They weie . soon re-cued, Shaw being seriously burned about the hands and arms. Yachtsmen who frequented the week-end camps at Broad Bay about seven or eight years ago will regret to hear of the death in London of Ik- J. H. liaillie. About a week previous he was well and hearty, when scarlet fever laid hold of him, compelling his removal from his private residence to a fever hospital. The end came' as he would have wished—short and sharp'." Old yachtsmen will have many pleasant recollections of the entertaining "Bags," as Ills familiar friends called him. No social function was a success without him, his droll humor and songs delighting everyone. Besides this, he was a true sport," and a gentleman in every sense of the word. He sailed aboard Matakana, Phantom, and Alefrt. Associated with him in these yachts were Dr .["lnch, Dr Sale,-Di-li. Fenwick, Dr Hotop, K. C. ifazlelt, and C. Hazlett. All tiie above professional men were 'Varsity students in those days. Needless to say, funVon occasions.ran high. It'^seems a coincidence, !bu± with the exception of- the Hazlett;-'biothers all bis yachting' associates were in -London at the time_ of his decease, and were present at his funeral.

Last week's ao/iatie display was a great success, both, from, a financial and .spectacular poinir of view. There is iniieh organising and many details the public never dream of attached to such an undertaking, and much of the success was due to the untiring efforts of Commodore Hanloii and his Committee. Tn fact, the commodore was the soul of the carnival. He was here, there, and everywhere wjiere work needed to be done. All the launches and fernsteamers were gay with lanterns and bunting. The sight was a pretty one, launches filled with merrymakers darting here and there. The Innisfree, the largest.-and stateliest of our motor fleet, was most in demand. The Pipe Band were accommodated on the Elswick, Uarrison Band on the Matariki, the Mornington Band on the Maheno, while the Citizens' Band discoursed sweet music on the wharf. The U.S.K. Company gave a rocket display. Valuable assistance was also given bv the Harbor Board and City, Corporation." The Ravensbourne Boating Club are Id be congratulated on the latest addition to their increasingly large. Heel.. After some fifteen months o'f steady work the Parte!! brothers have the satisfaction of seeing their boat finished. On -Thursday evening thj Query took her maiden voyage. The finishing of the launch Una been the. topi, of conversation in West Harbor for some time, and has been looked forward to l.v young and old alike. Even the uninitiated knew all about this boat. The difficulties these young men had to overcome were r.Vny. In Ihe iirst place, a suitable workshop had to be.built, after which a small engine was designed and fitted to work the lathe, handsaw, etc. These minor troubles overcome, they set to work and built a double-cylinder 5 h.p. oil engine (also their own design). Having got that off their hands, they next directed their energies on the hull and having gained a fair amount ot knowledge from the building of H-eir first boat, the Huana. thev have nowturned out. a boat which the resident" >-i West Harbor are justly proud of The length of the boat is 52ft, with 7ft be-un She has a large cabin, which has seaf inaccommodation for twelve persons, with »• cockpit that, will accommodate :.':io<her' dozen. The engine is situated well for'-irrl and is partitioned off with fine glass-pan-elled doors. The interior of the cabin is tastefully panelled with native timbers and is well lighted with large windows and skylight. She is built of kauri, will, kowhai timbers,,and all the wood lias been specially selected. Tn order-to get the boat to the water it was necessary to ha-v' a specially-constructed carriage, and with some twenty willing workers she was safelv launched. All those who had assisted ,'h 4?-m'? W: "' k were then entertained bv .Mr William Barclay, chairman of the Harbor Board, when the necessarv speech making was indulged in. The boat has so tar had a couple of spins down the bav and the engine works exti'emelv Weil" ■Spinnaker" wishes the Purtell's EO od luck, and trusts others tnav : follow their example, and fill In their spare time w-'th as much advantage.