RAVENSBOURNE BOATING CLUB.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 14378, 23 November 1908, Page 8

RAVENSBOURNE BOATING CLUB.

OPENING. OF THE SEASON. , A pleasing and piolurcsque proceeding was the opening of the season by the yachtsmen of. the Ravensbournc Boating Club, which took place on Saturday alter-! noon in a Stiff breeze. There was a largo number of spectators, who, watched this preliminary manoeuvres and the parade of yachts with lively interest. Before the parading squadron got under weigh, lWrcominodorc Smith took a. largo number of ladies for a brief cruise in a motor launch from which they obtained au excellent view of the trim craft that constitute the Ravensbourne fleet. At 3 o'clock Commodore H. E. Mollcr's yacht the Waimana. led off the procession, consisting of the Revenge, Roma (0.Y.M.8.C.), Vagabond, Lennox Lass, Goklsccker, Viking. Nell. Pastime, and several others. The yachts, after an exhibition of sailing on and oft' the made a short run with the breeze at their heels as far as Rothesay, and beat baol;, mostly under a reefed mainsail and storm jib. , The parade over, tea was served to the visitors in, the pavilion, and the Commodore (Mr /11. E. Mollor) delivered an addross. He heartily welcomed his hearers on behalf of tho club, and regretted that the breezo was rather too boisterous to bo pleasant. There had. he said, been one or two slight accidents, which must be attributed to over-eagerness on the part of the skippers, and not to lack of seamanship. The club had time and been the means of advertising the district. One or other of their boats always secured a lead, and the club had a name for prizewinning. Having read apologies from Mr Hanlon and some other prominent yachting mon. wTio were unable to bo present owing to pressure of business, the sneaker went on' lo thank the ownors of the motor lioats Elswick. Matu'a, and Doris for ro kindlv lendinir their vessels on' this occasion. Ho extended the thanks of the club to Mr Cooke" and members of the Citizens' Rind for their presence. The vice-commodores woro men of deeds, not of words. He usually had all the talking to do. and thm- bad nsked him. to thank Aw members of the flub for havincr elected them, and to stoto that thov would do all th n v could for tho ctood of tho elnk He hid web pleasure in declaring the season of 1903 open. % ... » Cheers were <*ivpn for the club, the commodore, and the .band.,