AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVI, Issue 11241, 9 December 1899, Page 7

AQUATICS.

About 14 yachts went down to Waiwera on Saturday afternoon, including Thelma, Ida, Thetis, and Constance. There was a strong westerly breezo 011 the trip down, and the yachts made the pace a rattler. Some of the boats left oil Sunday morning, and tho others mado a start early in tho afternoon, by which time the wind had gone more to the southward. Tliero was also a heavy sea running, and the boats got a bit of a dusting all tho way home. North Shore Sailing Club opened their season's racing Inst Saturday afternoon. Thero was a fine breezo blowing, and some interesting races took place, the most interesting boinj: tho Patikis, which, notwithstanding tho strong breozo and heavy sea, made a good " go" of it. Ponsonby Regatta takes place 011 Saturday afternoon next, and the committee have tho details in a very forward state, and everything gives promise of a fino afternoon's sport. Tho Northern Steamship Company's fine puddle-steamer Wakatero will bo flagship, and her splendid deck accommodation should provide plenty of room for visitors. Entries for the various events close at tho Ponsonby Club Hotel on Monday night next. The full programme and prizes will be found in another part of this issue. Quite a number of crews from the various rowing clubs were out practising 011 Sunday morning, although tho water was anything but favourable. Heartsease and Ida had a good "go" on Sunday coming up from Waiwera, tho latter having the best of it all the way. Tho little one-rater built by Logan Bros, for an Adelaide yachtsman has been finished, and she will be shipped across to Sydney on Monday by the "Westralia. Bona, the new 36-footer built by 0. Bailey, jun., for Mr. John Ohinnery, reached Sydney safely by tho Elingamite last Saturday. The new boat, so a private message says, has since had a satisfactory trial spin. She will probably bo engaged in a race to-day with the Sydney crack White Wings. An English newspaper received by tho last mail states that the next challenger for the America Cup is said to be Major Jameson, the member for West Clare. His yacht is to be called the Hibernia, and will be designed by Mr. Watson. North Shore Sailing Club will have to wake up, or they will lose tho?prcmier position they occupy. The flag officers appear to leave too much of the carrying out of the matters connected with the club in the ' secretary's hands, and while there is no doubt as to his energy, members are complaining of the lack of interest taken in the affairs of the olub by the officers. If a feel- , ing of that sort is allowed to continue, it

can only result in disaster to the club, which would be a great pity. The annual meeting of the Auckland Regatta Committee was held on .Thursday night last, and in response to the call there was a muster of less than a dozen. The. balance-sheet of the last regatta, which was adopted, will be found in another part of this issue. From the appearance of matters at present, it ■ looks as if the annual regatta will not take i place on January 29 next, unless some very i active measures are taken at once. Of late ! years tho carrying out of the regatta has : been left to a few enthusiasts, and now the majority of those have declined to interest themselves any further in the aquatio event. ; It appears to me that in such a maritime city I as Auckland, there should be enough gentle- ! men found to come forward and take such an , interest in matters as to prevent the annual | fixture of almost 50 years being allowed to | die out. Some very interesting racing took place I at West End on Saturday last, when tho I trophies presented by Mr. C. J. Parr (vice- | president) were competed for. This club has ! attained quite a reputation for good coni tests in trial fours, and last Saturday proved j no exception, a fact that must be very grati- ! lying to the gentleman above named. In I the final heat two boats rowed to a dead i heat for second place. I Tho trophies promised to West End by Mr. A. Ivohn last winter, have now arrived ! from Home. The} will be among the finest | ever competed for in rowing circles, and are l very handsome, valuable, and unique. The I management of tho club intend to hold an " At Home" shortly, and they will be com- ' peted for at St. Mary's Bay. Tho trophies | will bo on view in Mr. Kohn's window as soon as the dato of tho fixture is arranged. At Sydney, on November 25, in the general handicap event of the Prince Alfred Yacht Club, neither Meteor nor Aoma were competitors Annia had entered but did not start. White Wings (Mr. S. Hordern) was the winner. Tho Sydney Amateur Sailing Club had a ! general handicap race on Nov. 25. Mcrcia I (Logan Bros.' one-rater), was tho scratch | boat, but her owner did not relish suoh long timo allowances as were granted to tho other competitors, and did not start. Laurol (C. Bailey, jun.'s, one-rater), when holding a good position broke her tiller, and sad to letire from the race, which was won by Waimea, which had atime allowance of 14m. from Quadratic, won by 2m. from tho latter. The settlers of Wailicke have decided to hold the usual regatta on New Year's Dry at Arran Bay, Waiheke. Tho committee havo ! completed all arrangements, and fully expect that it will be tho most successful day's sport that lias yet been held at Arran Bay. Tie Northern Steamship Company have nude extensive preparations, anticipating that the ■lumber of visitors will far oxccod that of previous years. Since tho erection of tho extensive and commodious wharf at Cowes Bay by tho Northern Steamship Company, tho annoyance of landing in boats is unnecessary. AUCKLAND YACHT CLUB. Tho raco for tho Bloomfield Cup _ will bo sailed this afternoon, tho entries being Kotiri, Zinila, and Windward. The course, owi ing to big gun practice taking placo at the I fort at the North Head, has been altered as follows: From mark-boat off the end of I Queen-street Wharf, round Viking s moor- ' ings, round mark-boat off North Head, thenco ■ round mark-boat off Chelsea, finishing off ! Queen-street Wharf; twico round. This race 1 should prove a most interesting one between the two old rivals, Kotiri and Zinita, and as the course laid down is one in which the boats can be followed all the way round, it will no doubt be witnessed by a large number of spectators. PARNELL SAILING OLUB. Tho second series of races in connection with tho Farnoll Sailing Club take place this afternoon, and judging from the amount of ! interest being taken in tho various events ; thero is every prospect of a fine afternoon's j sport. The courses will bo tho same as those , for the last races. Tho yacht Ida will bo moored off Judge's Bay, and will bo the ; flagship. Mr. J. Ilonavno will act as starter i and Mr. O. V. Edgcumho as judgo and time- : keeper. Competitors aro reminded that all races will be sent away promptly to time, and are specially reminded (Patikis excluded) that they must keep outsWo of all ' fairway marks and Bean Rock Lighthouse. I The following is the programmo, with tho ) yachts entered and handicaps:—Patikis (to ' start at half-past, two p.m.): Rambler, I scraloh: Eka, 2m.; Boomerang, 5m.; Bronzewing, 7m.: Rita, 7in.: Zoo, 7m. ; 22-Footers (to start at a quarter to three p.m): Myra, scratch: Melissa, 2m.; Wel- • come Jack. 5m.: Enita, 7m.; Ida, 7m. MerI lin, ]lm.: Rewi, 15m.; Knromiko, 18m. | 26-Footers (to start at threo p.m.): Swift, ! pcrMoh: Pastime, 3m.; ICotiro, 7m.; Wai- ; tangi, OJm. ; (>pwi Class (to start at a quarter-past j Ihroft): Thelina. scratch: Rainbow, scratch; I Aororo, 13m.: Corina. 30m. MERCER REGATTA. The Mercer Rogatta will take place today, and is the first rowing fixture of tho I season. Everything promises a most sucI cessful outing. West End aro represented | in nil the outrigger races (five), wliilo Auckl land havo crows in four races, Waitemata, I North Shore, and St. George's each in threo. I Tho various clubs havo not had the opportunity of putting in as much preparatory work as they did for last regatta, tho weather and influenza being responsible, still some of the crows havo every confidence in doing even better for their clubs thro last year. The rowing is down stream this year, and I think this will bo found a great improvement, and will also prove decidedly more interesting to tho spectators. Ltnx.