AQUATICS

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXVIII, Issue 11771, 28 September 1901, Page 7

AQUATICS

As in all parts of the world, keen interest has been taken by Aucklaiulers in the America Cup, the first race of the series having been sailed on Thursday last. The result, however, is far from satisfactory, as owing to a light breeze the race was not finished within the prescribed time. The next race takes place to-day, and the result should be known in Auckland to-morrow evening. The annual Ponsonby Regatta will be held on December 10.

Messrs. Bailey and Lowe have received an order from Prince Kalauiahele, of Hawaii, for a yacht about three-quarter-rating, work on which will be commenced shortly. The Ponsonby Regatta Club held its annual meeting on Thursday night last, and the report and balance-sheet presented was of a most favourable character; the club, after paying all prizes and accounts in full, has a handsome balance to carry forward for next regatta. The officers and committee who had matters in hand last year aro to be congratulated upon the result of their efforts. Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee will, I trust, soon commence work for the next aquatic event on January 29. The committee who carried out the regatta this year are deserving of every commendation for the manner in which they worked against many difficulties, making one of the best records of late years. I trust that the old committee will see their way to take office again this year. "With the veteran yachtsman, Mr. C. B. Stone, as chairman, and Mr. W. 0. Somers as treasurer, there is no doubt that the next regatta will be as successful as that of last year. Tho well-known yacht Melissa will be offered by auction on Friday next by Messrs. Or. Lewis and Co.

Parnell Sailing Club has brought forward a. proposal to make yachts of the North Shore Sailing Club eligible to compete in the races of the club on payment of entrance fees. This proposal is, I think, a very good one, as it will induce more entries, and thus make the races somewhat more interesting.

The Auckland Rowing Club have two outriggers building by Edwards, of Melbourne, one being a " tip-top" association clinker outrigger, with all the latest improvements, and the other a practice clinker outrigger, also thoroughly up-to-date. These boats are expected in about four weeks' time from now, and will be a considerable addition to this energetic club's plant. New members are constantly being enrolled for the season, and a noticeable feature is the large proportion of rowers from other sheds. Their present plant is getting into thorough working order for the new season, for which the club is indebted to a few energetic members of committee.

There appears to be every prospect of a good season for yachting this year, and the whole fleet will be placed in commission. At present yachtsmen are busily engaged in getting their boats in order, and as the weather has of late been very fine a large amount of work has been done. What promises to be most interesting for the juvenile members of the Parnell Sailing Club is the revival of the model races. The models are to be built by amateurs, are to bo of kauri timber, and are not to exceed 4ft overall.

The first annual meeting, of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron (late Auckland Yacht Club), held last week, was a record imo so far as numbers were concerned. All through there was a fine feeling displayed, and if the same kindly spirit is carried out during the season nothing but good for the sport mustresult. I presumo that within the next fortnight or so the new officers and committee will bring down a policy, and I feel sure that it will be a most progressive one. I •would strongly urge upon the members of the club to give the new officers every assistance, in order that matters may be successfully carried through, as unless the offl cers are backed up by individual members there is sure to be a falling off in interest. THE lORANGI. lorangi, the new 36 footer built by Messrs. Logan Brothers for Mr. A. H. T;jrnbull, leaves for Wellington to-day in charge of Captain R. Butt. The new yacht has been out- for several trial spins since she was launched, and has proved herself a wonderful craft. The first trial was made on the 18th inst., and was a very sever© test for a new boat. The wind was very strong, from the south-west, with severe squalls off the land. In running, leading, and turning to windward she gave the utmost satisfaction, proving herself fast and woatherly and as " stiff as a house." The yacht will stand pressing to the last, and the more she lays over the faster she "tramps;" in fact, she is a " glutton" for a breeze. She takes her length and leaves the water without a tipple The lorangi was out again last Saturday, and acquitted herself as well as she did on her first trial, and both builders and owners are to be congratulated upon having such a fine littlo craft. A special feature of the yacht's rig is the new aluminium bronze blocks, which are a great success, being lighter and stronger than wooden ones. A fine picture of the yacht, tinder sail 'appears in this week's Auckland Weekly News. PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB. The above club's annual meeting took place last Tuesday evening in the Ponsonby Club Hotel. The attendance of members was exceptionally large, and all took great interest in the proceedings. _ Mr. W. Rettany, tho commodore, presided. The report and balance-sheet were unanimously adopted, and the committee are to be congratulated upon the sound financial position of the club. Officers were elected a* follows:—Patron, Mr. W. Passmore; president, Captain J. A. Subritzky; vice-presi-dents, Messrs. F. Kunst, S. W. Buck, I'. Stonex, A. Hill, A. Gifford, Bennett, A Alison, M. Casey, J. Clair, W. Walrond, T. T. Masefield, H. Culpan, F. Raynes, A. Myeis, J. Warron, F. Browne, L. Lewis, S. Levy, S. D. Ha-nna, O. Bailey, W. Courtney, Metcalfe. S. E. Hughes, W. Scott, W. Bailey, W. Carder, Dr. Moir; commodore, Mr. W. Bettany; vice-commodore, Mr. F. H. Browne: rear commodore, Mr. S. Lew; treasurer and secretary, Mr. A. Thompson; committee, Messrs. S. W. Buck, C. Harkins, A. Hewson, P. Roy, J. Boonstra, E. Bain, F. Kunst, W. Wilson, A. Warnock, and C. Hughes. Mr. S. Levy presented the club with a very handsome silver cup. Mr. S. W. Buck and Mr. J. Warron have also promised valuable trophies to bo competed for during the coming season. Mr. R. Murphy and Mr. E. Message, the retiring vice and rear commodores, are deserving of every praise for the able manner in which they assisted tho club during their term of office. During the evening the commodore, in a short speech, said that it was very pleasing to hear that Mr. R. Masefield, a member of the club, had been elected viee-oommodorr of the New Zealand Yacht Squadron, and he hoped that it would be the means of bringing these two clubs closer together when cruising. The question of lady membership, owing to shortness of time, was unable to bo brought forward for discussion, but will be brought up at the next general meeting, which takes place in about a month. Mr. W. Bruce and Captain A. Subritzky were elected honorary members.

WAITEMATA BOATING CLUB.

Tho annual meeting of the Waitemata Boating Club will take place at the Waitemata Hotel on Tuesday evening next, at which Mr. A. M. Myers (commodore of the club) will preside. The report and balancesheet to be presented is the most satisfactory that the club has had for a considerable time past. Last season the membership increased, the plant was added to, and tho affairs of the club improved generally. Including ladies' pair-oar races, the club won eight first and two second prizes at the various regattas, the amount of the prize money won (£57 93 6d) placing the club at Itho top of the list for the season. A good number of new men are joining this season, and as almost all last season's racing men will be again available the coming season should prove to bo as successful as the last. Lynx.