NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION YACHT RACE.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XII, Issue VI, 10 February 1894, Page 127

NEW ZEALAND CHAMPION YACHT RACE.

THE VIKING. THROUGHOUT the past week gossip in yachting circles in New Zealand has been devoted entirely to the recent Champion Yacht Race, when, to the geneial surprise but unbounded satisfaction of local yachtsmen, the Auckland built Viking beat the Sydney built crack Volunteer. Both yachts are very considerably larger than any of the Waitemata mosquito fleet, and for months past the contest between them has been looked forward to with the utmost enthusiasm. The Volunteer brought with her a big reputation for speed, and many of the • knowing ones ’ were positive that the Viking would never have a chance. Nevertheless, she won, and the prophets were discomfited. The Viking, of which a picture appears on this page, was built by Mr C. Bailey, a very well-known yacht builder, to the order of Messrs Luke and Henry Bloomfield, who gave instrnctions that she was to be built as good as money could make her, giving Mr Bliley carte blanche in the matter. Under the circumstances it really scarcely i aeds to be said that the Viking is the most comfortable and handsomest and it now appears the speediest yacht in New Zealand. The owners, of whom portraits appear, are very well known in Auckland, and ate likewise exceedingly popular, so that the win of the Viking was popular socially, as well as gratifying to the amour propre of Auckland boatbuilders, who are becoming month by month more famous. As will be seen from our picture, the Viking presents a most taking appearance, having a far more yacht like appearance than her larger rival. A brief description of her build will prove interesting to Southerners. She looks fast all over fiom her beautifully cut schooner bow to the long overhanging counter. Very handsome is the gilt scroll work which adorns her sides and draws attention to the beauty of her lines. So far as details are concerned, the timber used was kauri, with pohutnkawa knees and floors, and an iron baik stem and rudder post. She is diagonally built of three thicknesses, and is copper fastened throughout and coppered.

She is 46 feet on the water line, 67 feet over all, 12 feet beam, and draws abou| 0 feet of water. The deck fittings are of teak, and below some beautifully mottled kauri has

been used as panels with rimu and kahikatea. There is a forecastle fitted up with a host of most ingenious contrivances, saloon with lockers, drawers, a wine press, a

library, and folding berths equal to accommodating eight persons comfortably. The cushions are of crimson velvet, and the ceiling is painted white and relieved with gold.

There is a ladies’ cabin aft with two berths and innumerable drawers, besides which a lavatory and all other conveniences have not been neglected. The yacht is fitted with a mast 34 feet from deck to hounds, or 50 feet full length, and a top mast 26 feet. The boom is 45 feet long, and the gaff 30 feet. The bowsprit projects 16 feet from the bow. For ordinary cruising, the Viking will be rigged as a yawl, and for racing as a cutter. Naturally she has an immense spread of canvas. The spars are of Oregon pine, and only brass and galvanised iron materials have been used. A neat windlass forward is very handy, and altogether it will be difficult to find a superior to the Viking among the sailing yachts this side of the line. A sketch of the Volunteer will appear next week.