YACHTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 770, 3 December 1886, Page 14

YACHTING.

OPENING OF THE YACHTING SEASON.

The yachting season was opened by the Port Nicholson Yacht Club on Saturday with a great demonstration. The weather was beautifully fine, and a light wind was blowing. At three o’clock sharp, the signal was given from the Xarifa, and the procession moved off from the starting point between the Railway and the Queen’s Wharves in the following order : —Port division —Isca, Florence, Lily, Elaine, Maia, Dido, Vulcan, Naval cutter, Volante, Rewa; starboard division —Xarifa, Girola, Iris, Pet, Dream, Ida, Naval cutter, I’oneke, Wave. The boats sailed away in two columns, bearing toward the buoy off Point Halswell. Off Point Jerningham the signal went up at the gaff end of the Xarifa for <dhe divisions to go about on the starboard tack, and the leading boats -immediately went in stays and headed for Pipitea Point. Soon afterward they altered their course, steering for the end of the .Queen’s Wharf, which they approached in two divisions. Signal No. 3 being hoisted, the starboard division went about abreast the bulk off the end of the Queen’s Wharf, the post division going in stays between the hulk and the wharf. The leading yachts in the Btarboard division hauled their foresail sheets to windward to allow the port division to come up abreast ; and m two good columns they headed away, north for Ngahauranga. -Off Pipitea Point the signal was hoisted to go about on the starboard tack. Just at this time the sight was a very fine one. After the yachts had got well away on the starboard’ tack the signal 'went up to wear aw&y for the Queen a Wharf, and as they came running home in -two with a full complement on either

ride, two exceedingly well-defined lines were kept. When nearing the Queens Wharf the last signal went up for the yachts to disperse, which was done in the following manner The starboard division sailing past the end of the wharf mside the hulk went about at the south end of the outer tee, and headed north again, while the port division, passing outside the hulk, jibed on the south end of the wharf, and stood out toward Point Jerningham. Owing to the dying away, the manoeuvres had now to be concluded, and the boats made for their several moorings. , . . The manoeuvres were most successful, ana afforded an interesting sight to a large number of people. It should be mentioned that several boats which were to havß taken part did not do so ; but notwithstanding this the number of boats was large and the manoeuvres, as we have said, were very well carried out. The vessels in the harbor were gaily decorated with bunting in honor of the occasion. Ihe success of the manoeuvres is in a great degree due to the Rear-Commodore of the Club, Mr E. W. Mills, from whose yacht (the Xarifa), the various signals were given. The boats engaged in the proceedings were, without exception, capitally managed. Now that the yachting season has been iormally opened, the handicaps will be gone on with at once, as in previous years.