YACHTING
[By Fok’abd Hand.]
Now that the warm weather is at hand, boat owners are getting their craft in order again, and in several cases the work is already web advanced. With the exception of Port Chalmers, all the clubs have had their annual meetings, and in all cases good teams of officers have been elected, and what some of the younger ones lack in experience they make up for in enthusiasm. All the clubs are on a.sound footing, and a number of new members have been enrolled.
From all accounts the coming season will be a very good one. Keen racing is being looked forward to. As yet it is too early to forecast the probable starters in the fourteen-footer trials, but it has been stated that one well-known skipper has said that he will not enter his boat if the representative is selected on the same principal as last year. Most of the northern clubs favor the selection by _ a points system, provided that a suitable system is used. This method is the simplest. There are several point systems in vogue amongst various clubs in England and America, which give satisfaction. However, that is a question for the incoming members oi the Yacht and Motor Boat Association to decide.
A new type of craft is to make its debut on the Waitemata, this season in a 22-font square-bilge boat which will carry but a moderate area of canvas and only Bewt of ballast. The 18-foot class'boats haVe demonstrated their ability to “make the pace” before the wind, and great things are expected of this larger “ square bilge,” and her builder, Mr George Honour, is besieged by enthusiasts anxious to have a peep at her. There will be no now 14-footers built ibis season. A South Dunedin resident had intended building one, but owing to unforeseen circumstances she will not be ready for tbe beginning of the season, though her builder hopes to have her in commission before the season finishes.
At the boat harbor, Minnow is hi the water again and looking very shipshape in her new paint. Arawa took the water again last week. _ She has had a thorough overhaul in the hands of • her new owner. Mr “Scotty” Henderson, and should give a good'account of herself in the races. Mr' Robinson has Marewa op the slip, and tbe outside painting is already well advanced. _ The Calliope is slowly assuming a ship-shape aspect, under the bands of Mr 'West. This old-timer should prove very comfortable on a dirty day. Mr R. Cardnn has had the Ripple finished for some little time now, and Mr MThorsou has begun to “slick up ” the Eileen.
North-east Harbor has .shown commendable keenness during the winter months. Vice-commodorc Gibson lias raised Marain’s fore-deck, and she is in Urn water again, but her engine is still ashore undergoing overhaul. Tbe heightened deck should make her somewhat dryer in a sea, and give more headroom below decks. Jewel and Silvocea are on the slip undergoing the annual overhaul, while the former launch is having a new rudder titled to replace one that was lost a week or two ago. So far Mavis is the only ]4-footcr to have work started upon her, and Spray and Vision are iii fhe water. Mr George Challis has launched Thelma again, and she looks a picture as she rides to her moorings.
Up to the present little has been hoard of I'orL Chalmers and Broad Bay, but it is to be hoped that they will soon be hard at it.
Humor has it that Ik R. Hors, of Macandrew’s, is building _ a Taurauga seven-footer. This class has proved very popular in the norili. The 12-footers have not “caught on” to a very great extent here, and tiiese cockle shells arc a good deal smaller than that. Considerable interest is being taken in speed-boating circles in Auckland, and the coming sea-son promises to be a record one ns far as speed boating is concerned. The majority of the boats which raced last year will be scon afloat this season, and several new craft will make their appearance. At a commitfeo meeting of tho North-cast Harbor Club, hold Inst Wednesday, it was decided 'to open the season on Saturday, November 6, at 3 p.m. In the evening a dance will be held, Tho chib intends holding the usual club races during the season—namely, three for Hunches and three for yachts. The billowing Slip Committee was elected lor the season:—Messrs J. Kattray, C. J. Hook, and F. Brown. On Saturday, October HO, a, public mcetvig will be held in the North-cast Harbor (hub’s shed to discuss matters in connection with the annual regatta. It is understood that Hugh Riddell is to have a 12ft din Cornwell class boat this season. 1 hero should he some good races between this boat and Lassie and Colleen during the season. YACHT CLUB RENTAL.
For six years now the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club has held sections at the boat harbor without payment of rental. The Government auditor has been busy, and at its next meeting iho Harbor Board will ho asked to decide the amount of rental to be tixc'’.
Id Api the hoard decided to allow 1c: to occupy lour .sections’ at a no; cntal of is lor the four sections year, a proviso being: made y o years after the end of the (Irt - itar IJIO rental should he revised.
To date nothing: lias been done in the matter, but at the audit, early this year, the auditor questioned the position. As September .‘lO was the end of the hoard’s financial year, Mr W. .1. Bardslcy, the secretary, has asked for instructions.
In 1920, the year for the revision of the rental, the nominal sum was not charged (lie Yacht Club, whicn was not then in so favorable a financial position, and tor the last six.ioais no rental lias been paid. It was suggested at a meeting of the board, by Mr Mason, in 1915, that the rentals for the sections near the boat harbor should ho at ~ lu .fillv, 1925, the board fixed Mr■ (... IV. Snndstrum’s rental for a 20-ton., frontage at 5s per foot._ Tins equals £lO each for a full section the same size as the Yacht Club s. . “ For’ard Hand” understands that interest on the boat harbor costs the Harbor Board a fairly large sum per year, so club incnibcrs will appicnnt# the generositv of the hoard in withholding the claims for rental over the lean financial yea “
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Bibliographic details
Evening Star, Issue 19375, 8 October 1926, Page 10
Word Count
1,091YACHTING Evening Star, Issue 19375, 8 October 1926, Page 10
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