YACHTING.

Lyttelton Times, Volume LXXIV, Issue 9168, 30 July 1890, Page 2

YACHTING.

A NEW GRAFT. (3t Spinnaker Boom.) The yachting season, which will be upon us in a few more months, promises even at this early dale to be a pretty successful one. The list of Lyttelton-owned crafts has been added to recently by the purchase of the old Akaroa boat Zephyr, which only needs a little alteration of rig, &c., to increase her speed considerably. I do not now intend to go into the matter of what has been done to this or that boat during the months that have elapsed since the last contest. I will confine myse fto a few remarks upon the yacht which is being built in Lyttelton. Mr Sinclair deservesa word of praisoforthe pluck he has displayed in tackling soextensive a iobas the building of a boat such as he has on the stocks in Dampier’a Bay ; for it must be borne in mind that, although he has previously put together the yacht Little Wonder, lie then had a very different t isk from 1 hat which he recently undertook, and a task which, I am glad to notice, be has so far succeeded with splendidly. The craft he is now engaged upon is the property of tho Little Wonder Yachting C impany. The members of the Company are a few young yachting enthusiasts, and ray only wish is that they may get a craft to heat everything at present in our waters. Her length overall will be 53ft; load water-1 ine, 40ft; beam,7f 111 in; draugb t of water 9ft. The ballast will consist of ten tons of lead, which will be moulded in an iron case and will be all on the keel. Her measurement tonnage, according to local rule’, will be between ten and eleven tons. She is being built on the composite principle—iron frames with planks of wood, inch kauri being used in the planking, fastened with galvanised iron bolts and copper rivets. Double planks will be used in the decking. The cabin will be a very large one for the size and class of the boat, and will be stained and varnished throughout, and fitted up with cushions, lockers, &c. She will be rigged as a cutter, and her spars will be of the following dimensions: —Mast 40ft long, topmast 22ft, boom 38ft, gaff 28ft, bowsprit 22? t, and foresail boom 3 9fb. The area of canvas she will carry will measure about 3000 square yards, the luff of the mainsail being 22ft long and the afterleach 40ft. In general appearance she will not be unlike the Pastime when in the water, with a handsome schooner bow and long counter aft. It would, of course, be premature to even hint what sailing qualities the new boat is likely to possess, so I will be satisfied with saying that she is built on much the same lines as all the latest "sailing machines" in England. After her owners have found out her weak points and effected such alterations in positions of sails, &c., as may be necessary to remedy them, I have not much fear that this latest addition to the Canterbury yachts will prove that she is possessed of a good turn of speed. The ironwork throughout the vessel has been done by Mr Dailey, a local blacksmith, who is worthy of commendation for the manner in which he has carried out his duties. I hope to have another opportunity of saying something about the vessel—after she is in the water.