YACHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVI, Issue 17294, 18 October 1919, Page 14

YACHTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS. The fine weather last week end enabled a large number of owners to put the finishing touches on their boats, while others put their craft afloat. Now that the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association has decided to formally open the yacht in;; season in Auckland on November 15, tha the majority of the boats will be afloat by Labour Day Monday, October 27, which will give owners ample time to get their boats into racing order. As in the past, the opening will take the form of a combined cruising race to Matiatia, and ths display of " white wings" on the opening day should be one of the prettiest eights ever witnessed on the Waitemata. It is many years since such interest has been taken in yachting in Auckland, and there is every reason to believe that the coming season will be a record one. In years past there were more keel yachts in Auckland than there are at present—Wellington yachtsmen have purchased » large number of Auckland yachts from time to time, amongst them being Kotiri, Wairere 1., and Wairere 11., Viola, Marangi, AiJsa. Galatea, but never has there been such a large fleet of tuck-stern centreboard boats, open boats, and launches ia Auckland a* there are to-day. Like everything else boats have gone up in price, and the demand is greater than the supply, especially in the case of deep-keelera and mullet boats. Yachts and launches, which were out of commission before the outbreak of war, will be seen afloat this season, and others which were laid up owing to their owners and drews joing the colours will also be put afloat, while at least a dozen ii?w launches will make their appearance, and almost as many sailing boats, from the 26-footer down to the little 1C .": '»<-. All this has been happily brought a-Loiit by the termination of the war. New members have joined the various clubs in large numbers, while the old members who have been kept financial during their absence at the front, have returned, and, as well as having a record season so far as the number of boats afloat are concerned. the clubs should also have a very .... -- fat financial year. The course, times of sir--ting, and other details for the official opening of the season, will be arranged by the Auckland Y;;,cht and Motor-boat Association at its next meeting. The 24ft launch Grayling, now owned by Messrs. Pavitt, Verran, and Busby, of Takapuna, has been fitted with a 9-12-b.p. engine, which drives her along at about 7, knots. The Grayling took" the water six weeks ago, and" since then she has visited Pine Island. Whitford, Islington Bay, Arkle's Bay. Sflverdale, and several other places in the /rulf, the total distance covered so far this season being 150' miles. The keel yacht Ngatira and the launches Rosyth, Lolcnia. and Manu visited Islington Bav last week-end. The Deben, Bona, and ."Feunesse were at Pine Island, and the Countess at, Matiatia. Tha Sunday the Countess went out to tho Noises to do sornc fishing, but did not meet with any success. The crew of the launch Imanota had a very interesting day's fishing off Crusoe; Island on Sunday last. In the earlier 'part of the day a great haul of schnapper was secured, but later on sharks made theie appearance, and the crew succeeded ia landing a number of them, varying from 4ft Gin to 6ft bin in length. With . a view to encouraging the 14 fb one-desiqn class—open boats, the North Shore Yacht Club has decided to hold, special races for them on every occasion, and an event for open boats is set down fop decision, providing there are four starters in the one-design class. The "Skeates trophy" and two other special prizes have been wet aside for competition among the 14-footers. There are already several boats built for this class, and at least threo more are expected to make their appearance on the Waitemata this season. The; Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association ha* also decided to give a prize of £2 2s for 14-footcrs, the boats to be sailed by young men not exceeding 19 years of uge.' The many friends of Mr. W. D. Ross, the popular secretary of the New Zealand Power-boat Association, who has been seriously ill, will be pleased to learn that? he is making good progress towards recovery. The yachts Sadie. Gladdie, Cynthia, Rahiri, and Wayward, and the launches Rona and Daisy took the water at Foreman's Bay last. week. On Sunday th-3 - Rona paid a visit to Pine Island." The Daisy, which has been fitted with a newr engine, was out for a ran on Saturday and Sunday, everything working smoothly, This afternoon the launches Marne. Wai Lani, Sceptre, Okere. Emblem, and Ngarma are expected to be put afloat. The keel yachts Victory, Ilex, Wsione, Thistle, and Rawene are well in hand, and will be launched at an early date. Owing to the Mahaki, which is' hauled out astern of the first four yachts, being rather backward with her overhaul, it Is most likely that these boats will have to wait until she is completed and launched before they can be put afloat, as she obstructs the fairway. No doubt, the crew of Mahaki will now push ahead with he- and allow their fellow-yachtsmen to £et their boats afloat! without unnecessary loss of time. The suggestion of holding a combined picnic of' all yacht and launch clubs in Auckland was; favourably received at tha last meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association, and it was unanimously decided to <*arry out the idea. The date, etc., will he announced later on. The open beat Square Rigger, which was badly damaged in the gales of. March last, has been repaired, and was out for a ■" spin" on Sunday last. When she was driven 'ashore it was' at first thought she was beyond repair, but her owners decided to go ahead with the repairs and have made a good job of h«r.

ROYAL YACHT SQUADRON. ELECTION OF OFFICERS. The annual meeting of the New Zealand Yacht bquadron was held last evening, Mr. E. (J. Blomtield presiding over a. good attendance of members. The annual report, which ha* previously be«n published, was adopted. The following officers were elected:— Commodore, Mr. E. C. Blomtield ; vicecommodore, Mr. A. Burt: rear-commo-dore, Mr. A. E. GiffonL: committee, Messrs. H. A. Adams, C. R. G. Bassett, J. W Fratev, W. P. Endean. <,;. Hodgson, J. B. Johnston. L. J. Kcllv. N. L. Macky. R. T. Philson. and C* S. Reid ; hon solxitor, Mr. J. Alexander; hon. Audi- " tors. Messrs. J. H. Prater and J. F. Ho!- ; Hnrake; hon. secretary, Mr. J. Garrett; \ assistant secretary, Mr. N. G. Er?r.n; j hon. treasurer, Mr." S. C. Heichwav. i It was decided to instruct the incoming i committee to have the moorings examined periodically, so as to avoid boat? breakipj? adrift. b Regarding th e proposed boat harbour, the chairman of the Harbour l>L»ard, Mr. H. I). Heather, explained that the Government had declined to allow the propped Bill for the imnrovement of the harbour to go before Parliament in its present form. The Bill contained clause*, relating to the new boat harbour, and these wero not sanctioned bv the Government : therefoT<=i the boat har-bour could n-t he proceeded with at, present.