YACHTING.

New Zealand Mail, Issue 772, 17 December 1886, Page 14

YACHTING.

A special general meeting of the Port Nicholson Yachting Club was held at the Pier Hotel last night week to consider the election of members, the annual regatta, and general business. There was a good attendance, and Mr <E. W. Mills, rear-commodore, was in the chair. The Secretary read a letter from the Secretary of the Nelson Yacht Club, informing the meeting of a handicap race to be ran on the 28th instant. It was resolved that the Secretary be instructed to acknowledge the receipt of the letter, and in the meantime that he communicate the contents of the letter to yacht owners and those interested. The following names of candidates for membership were submitted tq the -meeting;—Messrs J. Petherick, L- Biss, Leatham, and J. H. Cock. They were elected, unanimously. Several gentlemen were elected honorary members of the Club. Mr E. C. Mills proposed, and Mr McKegan seconded, “ That the racing course for the coming year be altered, that instead of running, into Evans Bay, as they do at present, they run round Ward and Somes Island. From the discussion which followed it appears that the grounds on which the old course is disapproved is that the boats disappear altogether for about three-quarters of an hour, thus causing the spectators to lose interest in the race ; and also that.it was not a fair course on account of the heavy jibing necessary when the wind is in certain quarters. With regard to prizes, Mr . A. Johnston reported that it is the intention of Mr Blundell’ to give his usual annual trophy. On the proposition of Mr Norris, seconded by Mr Mee, it was carried unanimously that the Secretary be instructed to write to Mr Blundell, thanking him on behalf of the Club. The Kear-Commodore announced his intention of giving atrophy for second-classyachts, toba decided by the greatest number of points m three handicaps. In the third-class yacht race the prize will be given by ladies. It -was decided, on the proposition of Mr A. G. Johnston, that there be three classes of handicaps, and four classes of handicap races during the season, and that three classes of races °be run on the same day. The next business was the arrangements for the regatta. It was decided that the regatta be carried out on the 22nd of January (AnmTernary Day), as usual; that the gentlemen present be a Working Committee with power to add to their number and that the captains of ships in port be asked to co-operate with them. Mr Mee proposed, and Captain Keen seconded, that the following gentlemen be added to the Committee: Messss C. Hill, Quick, E. D. Butts, J. H. Cook, W. Grey, M. Chapman, W. Widdop. Smith, T. Kebbel, C. Batkin, E. B. Stock,

G. Campbell, and J. Petherick. Mr F, Mills proposed and Mr Roakrudge seconded, that his Worship the Mayor be an honorary member of the Club. Carried unanimously. Mr ■ Johnston proposed that a meeting be caHed for the 16th instant to report progress. A vote of thanks to chair, proposed by Captain Keen, seconded by Mr Roakrudge, concluded the business. An accident happened on Sunday afternoon to Mr Rawson’s. yacht, the Girola. The yacht was hailing in the harbor when a sudden squall of wind struck her, carrying away her weather shrouds and dismasting her. The Girola was subsequently towed in by the Mana. The Wellington Yachting Club were once more unfortunate in their weather on Saturday afternoon. The handicap races which were to have come off had to be postponed until to-morrow (weather p_ermitting)_ in consequence of the wind being too high. Anything like a fair race for the first-class yachts was out of the question, and for the second-class yachts it would have been dangerous to have sent them out. It is to be hoped that next Saturday the circumstances may be more favorable.