ROWING.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XVIII, Issue X, 6 March 1897, Page 288

ROWING.

From specification and a design prepared by Mr F. Grahame (a member of the club), there has just been built by Mr George Norton, boatbuilder, Waterloo quay, to the order of the Wellington Rowing Club, a racing, four-oared outrigger, which is quite a departure from the usual type of racing boat. This boat is designed on an entirely new principle, and has remarkably fine ends, with a comparatively large midship section, which make her very buoyant. There is a large amount of camber in the keel, which raises the bow well out of the water, making her a fine sea boat. Her dimensions are as follows:—Length, 42ft, breadth amidships, 2o%in ; depth amidships, I2j4in ; the boat is yin deep at the bow ; 6in deep at the stern. The materials employed in the construction are:—Keel and gunwale, American clear pine ; the outside skin, which is dressed to the thickness of i-ioth of an inch, is of specially-selected Australian cedar, and the timbers throughout are of willow, cut out of natural crooks. The inside fittings are mostly of willow. A leading feature in this boat is that she is divided into five watertight compartments, which render her practically unsinkable. Each man sits on a watertight compartment under his seat, and the roller slides are fitted on top of each compartment. The usual foot-boards or stretchers are done away with in this boat, and light willow clogs are substituted in their place, which affords a great saving in weight. The slides are of a new pattern, being fitted with vulcanite runners and rollers of the same material, special provision being made by Mr S. Waters, the veteran oarsman of the Club, for lubricating the same. A new departure has been made in the brass edge plates and the spread of the riggers, at the instance of Mr J. R. Crawford, stroke of the Senior crew. The boat has been built under the supervision of Mr P. Grahame, who has expressed himself highly pleased with the manner in which the order has been executed. It is the lightest boat of her class in the colonies, her weight being only 107 '4 pounds. This latest addition to the Wellington Rowing Club’s plant has proved herself remarkably fast, having twice beaten the Star Club’s new Clasper four. The whole planning and construction of the boat was gone into very carefully before the order was given, by what is known as the ‘ Co-operative party ’ of the Club, viz., Messrs J. Patterson, S. Waters, J. R. Crawford, P. Grahame, and F. McVicar. Edward Hanlan, the ex-champion of the world, is indeed an evergreen. He is not lacking either in supporters, even at this late hour, for it appears he has a friend in England who will back him against all comers on the Tyne or Thames courses for /*2OO a side. Owing to the boisterous weather on Saturday, the Committee of the West End Rowing Club found it impossible to proceed to St. Helier’s for their contemplated outing, and decided that the Trial Fours should be rowed off at Ponsonby. The rain cleared away about 11 o’clock, and a fine day was anticipated, but a strong N.E. breeze made the water exceedingly choppy. About 4 o’clock the four crews engaged in the first heat pulled down to the starting point, but two of the boats were swamped, one of them getting seriously damaged. Not wishing to risk the destruction of the other boats, the Committee wisely decided to postpone the gathering, and at a special meeting held on Saturday evening they resolved to have the competition on Saturday, March 6th, at Ponsonby.