YACHTING.

Evening Star, Issue 14187, 12 October 1909, Page 3

YACHTING.

[By SpnotAKKß.] HIGH WATER. —Saturday.— Taiaroa Head: 3.40 a.m., 3.54 p.m. Dunedin : 4.50 a.m., 5.4 p.m —Sunday.— Taiaroa Head: 4.18 a.m.. 4.33 p.m. Dunedin: 5.28 a.m., 5.43 p.m. The annual meeting of the club was held last Thursday evening. There are several new men on the Committee, and it is to be hoped with this new blood that they will get to work early and shake things uo. There will be plenty to do this year. There are some, I regret to say. left out this year who have 'been on the Committee for years and years, and have done a lot of hard work. However, as I said last week, they can't all be electerL Sunday morning saw a hard nor'-easier blowing, which caused the only two yachts that went down in the morning to tuck in all reefs. The Thelma made really good weather of it, showing something like her old form. The Irex did not seem to relish the big chop, and appeared from the shore to be giving the crew a fair ducking for their first trip of the season. Davis is busy putting several new ribs in the Vagabond and giving her a general overhaul. The Nell was out for a spin on Saturday afternoon, and seemed to glory in the rouo-'h weather. ' ° The Viking is now ready to go off the slip. As usual, she looks "very neat and trim. She ought to sail in the second class this year, as she is quite good enough for The Waimana is having several alterations made. Some four hundredweight of lead is being moulded into her keel. As Mac says, it will do her no harm, and might make a wonderful difference to this boat. -Motor boat 6 are about in great numbers. Like the yachts, they are mostly painted white, and it is very difficult to pick wliich is which. The Waterwitch has stowed her sails for good, and installed a puff-puff. Soon there will be no third-elaesers left. It will seem strange to see the Dream, Witch, and Mayrighting it out together in a launch race. These three have often fought it out under canvas. The ' New Zealand Shipping Gazette' contains a photo of the Leader. It also contains the following par:—"To demonstrate the good points of the Kelvin engines, Mr M'Culloch intends having a boat built from designs supplied by the Kelvin people, fitted with a 14 h.p. four-cycle engine of their make, and it is expected that it wUI be easily the fastest launch in Otago Harbor." Will the commodore have to look to his la.urels? Sir Hubert Parry, the eminent musical composer, is a great- lover of all forms of outdoor exercise and sport, and of these he is moftt enthusiastic in regard to yachting. He simply revels in a sail in a good hard blow. His yacht (the Wandle) is a fine boat, and quite equal to the tests her owner subjects her to. It i 6 said that on one occasion an old skipper said to Sir Hubert: " Well, sir, you're not drowned yet, but it's certainly not your fa.ult."

The '"New Zealand Yachtsman' contains the following "don'ts." It will be well if motor-boat owners remember them : Don't, throw matches about. Don't use wax matches on board. Don't' wait till night time to fill the tank. Don't look for a leak with a lighted candle. Don't smoke near where benzine is stored. Don't cook where benzine is stored. _ Don't forgot to keep chemical fire extinguisher on board. Don't cruise without your dingey.