YACHTING.

Evening Star, Issue 14526, 30 November 1910, Page 3

YACHTING.

Last week-end the boats were favored ', with a nice light nor'-easter to bring theai home, and in anticipation of next Saturday's club races several of them indulged in spinnaker practice. The first of the ladies' evenings arranged by tiie Ravensbourne Club took place last week, and was an unqualified success. All the yacht crews went to the trouble of hoisting sail, showing that they are willing to do something in return for the monetary assistance and trophies they get to carry on their regatta. Ravensbourno Club races attracted a fair number of boats in each class, and the go between the Waimana and Revenge was interesting, when one takes into con sideration that the course is a seven-knot one, and there being only 20sec between the boats at the finish, it shows no mistakes were made by either Kellett or Webber, the skippers of the respective botas. When boats such as Waimana and Revenge fail to give Viking 7min over that course it only brings homo more forcibly the fact that'the O.Y. and M.B.C. took a step in ths right direction when they reduced the nu.nber of classes. There is little doubt that with the system of handicapping niw in vogue'a first, second, and third class rac ■ is all that is required. The old Rambler sailed well, and can easily hold her own as a second class boat. The motor boat race brought out seven starters. They were all sent off the mark together, the most noteworthy feature of this race being the poor performances of the Query and Imp; while the Ximrod surprised many The Jean won on time allowance. Annis mad. l a trip up the Victoria channel and beat back in the afternoon. Several 'of these boats are almost .complete strangers to the Upper Harbor. The O.Y. and M.B.C. having been approached in the matter of taking over the Broad Bay regatta, have agreed to do so, and will now make it an annual club fixture, but the club would not entertain the idea of paying the surplus over to the Bay trustees, and decided to leave the £45 which the trustees now have in hand, and take the responsibility of facing a loss. Should there be a surplus, however, it is to go to augment the club's funds. .No man of any busines capacity could expect the club to do otherwise. "Spinnaker" suggests that a solution to rid the trustees of the Broad Bay regatta of their surplus would be to pay it into some charitable fund, thereby carrying with it a Government subsidy of 24s to the £. And why not endow a cot in the hospital and call it the Broad Bay cot? Torn Harridge's handicapping of the motor boats at Jlavonsbourno appears to have given entire satisfaction. Why not couple him with the senior club's liandicappers. thereby enabling both clubs to benefit by his boating experience? Tueana, the champion yacht of the harbor, was launched during'last week. What a pity some keen young enthusiasts do not purchase this fine craft, for with a crew that would take an interest in her money could bo picked up at regattas, and she would soon pay for herself. I thought Captain M'Dougall's lecture on the ' Rule of the Road' would have had the effect of convincing launch-owners of the seriousness of the practice of getting in the way of vessels in tho harbor, but it seems as though some people were slow to learn. As the Karl of Carrick was leaving last week a small launch came round the corner of tho wharf, and right in tho course of the steamer. Pilot Maxwell was on the bridge, and blew tho whistle for them to " keep clear," but instead of doing so they foolishly cut across his bows and came close alongside, laughing and waving their hands. 1 well remember the final remarks of Captain M'Dougall's lecture. Ho said ho would like to make a suggestion, which, if carried into effect, would make merchant seamen entertain a higher opinion of yachtsmen than they held at present: when they 6aw a vessel working up harbor, not to go dodging about athwart her course, in her trad;, or to see how close they could go to her with impunity. J,et them not lose sight of the fact that tho helmsman on board the merchantman was earning his bread and butter, and let them not make his life harder than it was. Tho bow wash throw one off a little, but tho water closing in under the vessel's run might suck a boat on to tho propellers. They should also remember that in the event of an accident the man at the helm and the officer on the bridge might find it difficult to clear themselves of blame. Tho Terra Nova belongs to the Royal Yacht Squadron fleet. Secretarv Wilson, on behalf of the O.Y. and M.B.C, sent a farewell message of "Bon voyage, a successful expedition, and safe return." The Otago Regatta Comtnitteo have increased by £1 each (he prize-money in the unballasted and third class yacht races. 'ln the sidling events they have taken off tho third prize and added it to tho first. Was it wise to do so? There are three motor races on the pro- , gramme («is year—viz., 4 h.p. and under, over 4 h.p. and under 10 h.p., and 10 h.p. and over. This alteration was very necessary, and will bring tho boats much closer together, besides helping tho handicappers in their diftindt task. The unusual spectacle of a boat being launched bow on was witnessed by a small gathering of yachting enthusiasts at noon on Saturday. The boat was the Tangaro.i, and jio matter whether she took her tirst dip into the briny bow on or the orthodox custom of.Ktern on, she got there safely, and Gillander may congratulate himself on the result of his months of toil and worry. Tho Tangaroa is a beauty, and easily eclipses his late possession the Elswick". On Saturday afternoon she went for a trial run as far as Ravonsboumo, but a heavy sea was running, and having little or no ballast aboard, she did not appear at her best. On Sunday, however, tilings were more shipshape, and her engine went splendidly. Skipper Gillander reports haying taken his first tuii as far as Broad Bay, thence to Portobello, Port Chalmers, and the Heads, and is quite satisfied that once the boat settles down to steady work she will be all one could wish for.

[By Spinnaker.] ' HIGH WATER. Taiaroa Hoad. Dunedin. a.m.' p.m. a.m. P-™ Thursday . ... 2.2 2.18 ... 3.12 5.28 Friday .. 2.59 3.0 ... 3.49 4.10 Saturday ... 3.22 3.54 ... 4.32 4.53 Sunday ,.. 4.4 4.26 ... 6.14 5,56 Monday 4.49 5.15 ... 5.59 6.23 Tuesday .. 5.41 6.4 ... 6.51 7.14 Wednesday 6.34 7.2 ... 7.44 8.12