AQUATICS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XXXIX, Issue 11854, 4 January 1902, Page 7

AQUATICS.

Yachtsmen have had extremely bad luck again during the past week owing to the extreme severity of the "weather which prevailed. On Saturday and Sunday last; and, in fact, all through the week, the wind blew very strongly from the west and south-west, which spoilt the pleasure of cruising. Last Sunday was a regular ,'.■'.' howler" from the westward, with a hca.vy sea, arid the returning yachts got the worst ''dusting" for some years past* ■ : • If the weathe. has been bad for yachtsmen it has been very much worse lor rowing men, who have been unable to do any practice work at all lately. The first handicap ocean race for the yachts of the New Zealand squadron; is set down for next Saturday afternoon, the start being from the end of the Queen-street Wharf, at half-past two o'clock, and the destination either Te Koum-a or KaVau, according to the state of the weather, ';I; trust? to see every boat in the. club taking part in the race, so that •display on' the occasion, may bo made as interesting as possible.

The annual picnio of the New Zealand -Yacht Squadron is to take place on January 18. There is, I understand,' a proposal on foot to hold the picnic on different lines than heretofore.-: The idea, is .; for ' yachtsmen :to take "their lady friends ; down to Home Bay, Motutapu; in the yachts, and; arrange for a steamer to"come down for; them m the evening ; afternoon - tea ■ being dispensed %in -a marquee on shore, and- a display of fireworks on*: shore -" in the evening.;- ; This idea 'seems: to me to be* a very good one, and ought to prove both interesting and satisfactory to the friends of members of the club. _,;:, \ ,_■ . . The West End Bowing Club hold trial fours to-day for "trophies; presented ; by:Mr. W. H. Bartlett, the well-known * : photo-; grapher. In accordance with the club's practice afternoon tea and refreshments will "be provided. .No formal- invitations have been . ■ sent - out on this occasion, but visitors will be heartily welcomed, and a large attendance is anticipated. There are 12 crews engaged, and most oi the competitors seem confident that their "four" can win, so some good racing can confidently be locked for. There will -bo three heats of four crews each, and the three winners will contest in a fourth race. Those who saw it tell me it was a great sight to see Volunteer and Thelma, leaving Kawau on Sunday in the heavy wind and sea, at times only the sails of the yachts, being visible from the top of t\eWl of the island. It speaks volumes for the smartness of our yachtsmen that not a single - serious accident has occurred all through the heavy weather which tho yachts have experienced this season, although several of the ,' Provi encH tempters" were afloat during the worst or the weather. •■ ■ ' , I am afraid that very few of the yachts who are away with the intention of going North mil get very far away oil their journey, t. They must be having anything but a pleasant time of it. ■ : . West End Bowing Club have contributed a number of their members to the cause of the • Empire in : South Africa, and, ; by the Eighth; Contingent ■; another , member \of the club—-Mr.. J.* Carder— gone to serve his King, and Country. All who know "Joe feel confident that he will cheerfully ,• do his duty, and do it well, and he carries with him the best wishes of all who know him. Anothei member Mr. B. Bullen— also going with the Eighth, but at the last minute was unable to get away. It is quite on the cards that the club will have a largo shield made of all the* members who have served in South Africa, . which will.bo hung in. the boathouso as a permanent memento off the club's connection with the Boer war. , The largo pleasure oil launch Messrs. Bailey and Lowe are building for Mr. H. H. Hayr, of this city, is now well advanced and is expected to be ready for launohing in about a week's time. * _ The annual regatta at Cbwes Bay, Waihoke, was quite as successful as upon former eccasions , and attracted a : record attendance, some 3000 persons being present. The yachts mustered in good force. There must have been fully 80 boats in the bay.. In spite of this largo noet only three entrants were secured for the big yacht race, which was naturally rather tame. Thetis won on 'time. allowance, but Volunteer could have -secured the prize if she had been smarter at tho finish, where she lost a lot of time going about to cross the line. Some of the absentees from the big event say they objected to. racing under North Shore Sailing Club's rules.(vide programmo), as they considered the substitution of the smaller club fot the yacht souaclron was a slight on the latter bod}./ The event for second-class yachts attracted a nice field of nine, and Speedwell won after a good race. - Lynx.