AQUATICS.

New Zealand Times, Volume XLVII, Issue 7947, 2 December 1886, Page 6

AQUATICS.

OPENING OP THE YACHTING SEASON. The yachting season was opened by the Port Nicholson Yacht Olub 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—lsoa, Florence, Lily, Elaine, Mala, Dido, Vulcan, Naval cutter, Volante, Rewa; starboard division —Xarifa, Girola, Iris, Pet, Dream, Ida, Naval cutter, Poneke, Wave. The boats sailed away in two columns, bearing toward the buoy off Point Hals well. Off Point Jerningham the signal wont up at the gaff end of the Xarifa for the 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 hulk off the end of the Queen’s Wharf, the post division going in stays betwe-n the bulk and the wharf. The leading yachts in the starboard division hauled their foresail sheets to windward to allow the port division to come up abreast ; and in two good columns they headed away north for . Ngahauranga. Off Pipitea Point the signal was hoisted to go about on the star, board tack. Juit 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 away for the Queen’s Wharf, and as they came running home in two divisions with a full complement on either side, two exceedingly well-defined lines were kept. When nearing the Queen’s Wharf the last signal went up for the yachts to disperse, which was done in the following manner :---Th6 starboard division sailing past the endof the wharf inside 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 off the south end of the wharf, and stood out toward Point Jerningham. Owing to the wind dying away, the manceuvres had now to be concluded, and the boats, made for their several moorings. The manoeuvres were most successful, and afforded an interesting sight to a' large number of people. It should be mentioned that several boats which were to have taken part did not do so; but notwithstanding this the number of boats was large and the manceuvres, as wo have said, were very well carried out. The vessels in the harbor were gaily decorated with bunting in honor of the occasion. The success of the manoeuvres is in a great degree due to the Rear-Commodore of tho Club, Mr E. W. Mills, from whose yacht (the Xarifa), tho 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.