YACHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXI, Issue 18711, 17 May 1924, Page 13

YACHTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

FAREWELL TO THE FLEET.

The welcome accorded the Special Service Squadron last Saturday by the yachtsmen of Auckland was most creditable, especially for this time of the year. There were well over 250 yachts and launches, the majority of which were gaily decorated. As was to be expected the launches predominated, but despite the lateness of the season there was a good display of "white wings. Early in the morning there was a light northerly breeze, but about 10 o'clock a heavy rain squall caused the wind to shift round to the south-west and freshen. This put more "life" into the yachts- and as the entire fleet made its way up the harbour convoying the visitors, the sight was .a very pretty one, and long to be remembered. The eight launches detailed on for patrol work were kept busy dashing from beat to beat, but generally speaking, little fault could be found with the majority of the pleasure boats, which kept inside the required five fathom limit on both sides of the harbour. Apart from the breaking of one or two dinghy painters, no mishaps were recoraed among the pleasure fleet but the hire launch Tamuri caught fire and was destroyed. The Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, which organised the welcome at the request of the Harbour Board, invites all owners to give the warships ft fitting send-off this afternoon by escorting them down the harbour. They are to observe the same navigation rules that prevailed last Saturday. v The Victoria .Cruising Club has decided to hold it 3 annual prize night in the Trade's Hall, on Friday, May 27. The function will take the form of a social and dance. The doings of the high-speed boat carried by H.M.S. Hood aroused considerable interest on the harbour. This craft, which wa3 one of the smaller type of coastal motor boats built for war service, is i really a single step , hydroplane and has a speed of 33 knots. She has a long and narrow cockpit, and has three skins forward and two aft. The hull is 40ft. in length and the beam Bft. 6in. The draught forward is only a few inches and three feet aft. The launch formerly carried a torpedo. Her former engines have been removed and she is now fitted with a 250 h.p. 12 cylinder (V type), Thornycroft. When going at full speed she throws up such a smother that she is almost lost to sight in broken water. A number of Auckland yachtsmen and others had the pleasure of making a trip in the speed-boat and thoroughly enjoyed it.