Yachting Season Prospects.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLI, Issue 3, 15 July 1908, Page 37

Yachting Season Prospects.

RACING CRAFT IN AND AROUND HOME WATERS. (By Francis B. Cooke, in “London Express.”) Since the days of the peerless Britannia, no yachting season has opened with brighter prospects of success than that which is now upon us, for the th re 3 important classes that comprise the touring fleet will all be strongly represented. This fleet journeys from port to port, racing at all the big regattas round the coast from Harwich to the Clyde, and the rivalry between the various yachts in their respective classes bids fair to be unusually keen. LARGE CUTTERS. The feature of the coming season will be the racing of the 23 metre class, which will comprise the following vessels: — Yacht. Owner Built. Shamrock . . Sir Thomas Lipton 1908 White Heather Mr. Myles B. Kennedy . . . . 1907 Brynhild . . Sir James Pender 1907 Nyria . . Mr. Robert W. N. Young .. .. 1906 A good many years have elapsed since a fleet of four big cutters went the round

of the regattas, and the revival of firstclass racing must be attributed to the improvement effected in the conditions by the recently formed International Yacht Racing Union. Built to a measurement formula that encourages a wholesome type of yacht, the racing craft of to-day is as roomy and comfortable below decks as most cruising vessels of similar tonnage, while the new scantling re itrictionr ensure to her a long lease of life. The new Shamrock, which has been designed and built at Faillie by Mr. Fife, is a notable addition to the class, and Sir Thomas Lipton a welcome recruit to home racing. Hitherto Sir Thomas’ yacht racing has been confined to his fruitless efforts to win back the America Cup, but now that he has for the time being abandoned his quest of the unattainable, it is hoped that his colours will be seen regularly in home waters. The lines of the new Shamrock are said to be based upon the design prepared by Mr. Fife for Sir Thomas Lipton’s would-be Cup challenger, and she is certainly of more extreme racer type than White Heather, which came from the same yard last year. Her overhangs are more attenuated, the draught is

greater, and the sail plan larger ami more lofty; but no sacrifice has been made in the way of comforts below decks. Ihe yachts internal accommodation is, indeed, positively luxurious, ami in striking contrast to that of any of the former Shamrocks, which were" racin» shells pure and simple. LAST YEAR’S CHAMPION. In view of the advent of the new Fife clipper, last year’s champion (White Heather) lias received a special preparation. Some modifications have been effected to her keel, and her boom lengthened to enable her to carry more sail. To remove any roughness that may have appeared on her planking as the result-of a first season’s racing, the copper has been stripped off and the plane run over her skin. Brynhild has also received a good deal of attention at the hands of her builders, and will make her reappearance in very different trim from that of last year. During the past winter the Nicholson cutter has had further modifications effected in her keel, a longer bowsprit shipped, and her masthead gear lightened, and in the hands of Captain Steven Barbrook she may yet trouble Shamrock and White Heather. Mr. Young has given Nyria a new suit of sails this year, and although now in her third season, she may still have a sporting chance

THE OLD-FASHIONED PASTIME OF ARCHERY HAS STILL QUITE A NUMBER OF DEVOTEES. This is a photograph of the competitors at a recent meeting.

with the aid of her time allowance of seven seconds per mile. Thanks to the promised visit of a fleet of German schooners. the A class for schooners, yawls, and ketches exceeding 23 metres rating will he a very strong one dining the early portion of the season. The fleet is expected to comprise the following yachts: — Meteor 412 The German Emperor Idiina . . 304 The German Empress X'avahoe 235 Herr Watjen Clara 185 Herr Max Guilleaume Susanne.. 154 I lerr Iluldschinsky Cicely .. 263 Mr. Cecil Whitaker Adela . . 224 Mr. Claud Cayley TIME SCALE. The yachts will race under the time scale of the International Yacht Racing I nion, the allowances being calculated upon the basis of four seconds per mile for each metre of rating, schooners and ketches being granted a rig allowance of twelve per cent, on their rating. The majority of the German-owned vessels are well known in English waters, as they have frequently competed at Cowes and elsewhere. The Fife-designed Cicely makes a welcome reappearance after being out of commission since 1903. She

OUTDOOR SPORTS FOR ENGLISHWOMEN.

has lately passed into the ownership of Mr. Cecil Whitaker, who has had her thoroughly overhauled and fitted with longer masts with a view to increasing her sail area. Cicely enjoys the reputation of being the fastest schooner of her rating afloat, and in the hands of Captain Embling should give a good account of herself.

'the racing of the sporting la-metre class bids fair to be as keen and exciting as was that of the 52-footers which it now supersedes. Of the craft that raced last season, Britomart, Maloona, Shinina, and Maymon are available, and a new yacht, Mariska, has been designed and built by Fife for Mr. A. K. Stothert. There is also a possibility of the old Fife-designed 52-footer Lucida joining the class, as she has recently been purchased by Mr. F. Last, Rear-Commodore of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club. As was the ease last season, all the new boats from Mr. Fife’s board bear a strong family likeness, and Mariska in general appearance is a miniature edition of Shamrock. Britomart will appear in her old trim, and, although now getting into years, will still require a deal of beating, for no one knows more of the game than Mr. Burton. Maloona and Shinina have both changed hands since last season, the former having been purchased by Mr. Almerie Paget, and the latter by Messrs. J. R. Payne and A. E. Watson.