YACHT CLUB

Timaru Herald, Volume CL, Issue 22066, 12 September 1941, Page 8

YACHT CLUB

Officers Elected

Entry In Championship Events The opinion that although the membership had been depleted by men serving in the Forces, every effort should be made to compete in the various challenge races in the coming season wa.s expressed at the seventh annual meeting of the Timaru Yacht Club on Wednesday night, when it was agreed that the committee should consider a recommendation to that effect. The commodore, Mr H. H. Kingham, presided over a large attendance. The balance-sheet showed that the vear commenced with a credit balance of £7/7/- and closed with a credit of £B/10/3.

The commodore said that the members had enjoyed the sailing events during the season in spite of the trouble which had been experienced with the slip. For the first time the club had been represented in the Sanders Cup contest, but although the crew had suffered a few mishaps in that event, it had met with some success at the regatta.

Mr S. H. Bird said it was a credit to the club to have ended the year so well financially, especially in view of the expenditure in providing for a water supply for the hosing down of the boats. Election of Officers

The election of officers resulted as follows: Patron, Dr. W. C. Burns; vice-patrons, Dr. F. F. A. Ulrich, Captain H. C. White, Mr E. McConachy; Commodore, Mr H. Culbert; vice-commodore, Mr C. Hansen; rear commodore, Mr R. Baillie; club captain, Mr S. H. Bird; handicapper, Mr H. H. Kingham; judge and time-keeper <to be appointed), delegates to the Canterbury Yachting Association. Messrs. H. H. Kingham, jr.. and G. Innes; hon. secretary. Miss M. Riddler; hon. treasurer, Miss V. Romans; hon. auditor, Mr W. Allport; committee. Miss N. Johnston, Messrs B. Daly. B. McDonald, W. Morrison and H. H. Kingham, jr. Miss N. Johnston, who relinquished the position of hon. secretary, was accorded a vote of thanks in appreciation of her services. New Season’s Events

Mr B. McDonald asked if the club intended to compete in the Idle Along Championship at Lyttelton this season. Last year a crew had been nominated, but it had not competed. Boats would be provided, and arrangements made for billeting visiting crews. Owing to the war it would be difficult to keep going, but an effort should be made to keep the sport active and avoid the lapse of interest which had occurred after the Great War. In the coming season the championships would be held at Lake Brunner. Mr H. H. Kingham urged the club to compete in the four contests —the Idle Along Championship, the Sanders Cup, and Cornwall Cup, and, if possible, the' Britannia Cup events. A recommendation to the committee to that effect was carried unanimously. Condition of Sheds Messrs S. H. Bird and H. Culbert, reported on a discussion with Mr G. R. Lee, secretary of the Timaru Harbour Board, in regard to effecting improvements in the appearance of the yacht sheds. Mr Bird said that Mr Lee had stated that unless an improvement were effected it was unlikely that the Board would renew the club’s lease which was due to expire shortly. Mr Bird said that he had explained to Mr Lee that the club was handicapped as 90 per cent of the members were either on active service or would be within a month or so. At the moment 10 or 12 members were serving in the Navy, and five others were on overseas service, and several were in the Air Force. The club would have to do something in the matter, and he hoped the Harbour Board would appreciate the position the club was in. Other harbour boards were assisting the yacht clubs by providing free accommodation for yachts during the war and for the first season thereafter, but these boards drew their revenue from the volume of shipping which they handled. The Timaru Board was in a different position as it relied to a certain extent on rates from the Harbour Board area. The larger harbour boards appreciated the fact that the yacht clubs formed a splendid training ground for the Navy and the mercantile marine, and even the Timaru Club had contributed a number of youths to the Navy. After some discussion it was decided that Messrs Culbert and Bird should interview Mr B. W. Charman, Harbour Board engineer, in regard to the improvements to the yacht shed. The matter of improving the slip was referred to the committee with power to act.