YACHTING SEASON

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXI, Issue 21967, 26 November 1934, Page 11

YACHTING SEASON

VERY SUCCESSFUL OPENING FINE SCENE ON THE HARBOUR YACHTS AND LAUNCHES RACING The official opening of the yachting season on Saturday was one of the most successful for many years. There was an exceptionally large number of yachts racing and the harbour presented a fine spectacle. The wind dropped just prior to the start of the first race and many of the sailing craft had difficulty in stemming the tide and reaching the starting line. With the bright sun shining in their sails, which were gently filling to the light airs, they could be seen in all parts of the harbour trying to take up a position above King's Wharf. There were boats of all types and sizes, ranging from naval whalers to large keel yachts and launches. Some very close contests were fought out among the centreboard boats, whose courses were for the most part within the harbour, while the keel yachts raced to Matiatia Bay, Waiheke Island. The afternoon was one which was well suited to launches as well as yachts and most of the sheltered bays in the gulf were visited by the pleasure fleet. About 40 boats assembled in Matiatia Bay for the night, the majority leaving early yesterday morning for bays further afield. There was a fresh breeze yesterday afternoon and the harbour once, more presented a beautiful scene, when toward evening the innumerable "white wings" were returning to their moorings.