WITH SAIL and MOTOR

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIII, Issue 20, 17 November 1909, Page 9

WITH SAIL and MOTOR

NEWS FROM THE WATER (Special to “ Graphic.”) THE yachts Rangatira and Kotiro have been launched from off the beach at Judge’s Bay, and taken up their old moorings. Messrs. Seagar Bros.’ new steam launch will be launched on Thursday, to have her boiler lifted in. She will then be taken up on the slip again to be finished off. The first race of the season for yachts oi the Devonport Yacht Club will be sailed on Saturday afternoon. The event is a cruising race. There should be some interesting racing this season between open boats of the 16ft class’. There have been several ni w boats built this year, so that the older ones will have to keep their *’weather-eye” lifted on the new boats. The weather for last week-end was a slight improvement to that prevailing for several weeks past in Auckland. Saturday looked a bit doubtful, but the rain kept off; consequently there was a li rge number of sailing and motor yachts on the move, speeding for the cruising grounds. The first races of the season of the Richmond Cruising Club take place on November 20, and will be a cruising one to a destination to be fixed. This club has arranged for an entrance fee of 2/6 for each boat in their races, Bailers and motors. The first races of the New Zealand Power Boat Association for this season will take place in the harbour on Saturday afternoon next. There was a great fleet of yachts of classes on Sunday between Maitaitai and Drunken Bay. Mr. Lindsay Cooke’s oil yacht Naomi IT. was launched at Ponsonby on Monday. Mr. J. Hodgson’s oil yacht Tuhatu does very well under canvas and engine, and beat Matareka by some 7 minutes on the run down to Waiwera on Saturday night, Waiwera was visited on Saturday by a good many of the sailing yachts, who cleared out early on Sunday morning for various cruising grounds. The oil yachts Matareka and Tuhatu went down to Waiwera on Saturday, where they remained for the night, going across to Tiritiri on Sunday, where the Petrel was met with. This is the first enjoyable cruise this season that the boats have had, the weather on Sunday being very much on the good side.

Waitemata Dinghy Sailing Club. The first races of the season of the above club took place on Saturday afternoon under favourable conditions. There was a nice breeze blowing from about W.S.W., and the tide at flood. There were two events—one for Class A and one for Class B. Mr. C. P. Murdoch acted as starter and judge, and got the boats away well together. The Class A event was somewhat marred from the fact that just prior to the start. Oliveen had the misfortune to carry her mast away, and could not compete. The course was: From off Calliope Dock Wharf, round Viking’s moorings, off Judge’s Bay; thence round red buoy, off Sandspit; finishing at the starting line. Class A had to go twice round, and Class B once round. The following are the details: — Class A.—Entries: She, Keepa, Oliveen (all from scratch). As mentioned above, Oliveen did not compete. She and Keepa were sent off to a good start at 3h. Bm. p.m., but She had nearly a minute before she got away. On the first round Keepa led all the way, the times passing the starting line on the first round being: Keepa, 3h. 49m. 205.; She, 3h. 49m. 455. The wind was blowing fairly strong during the secon 1 round, and She gradually overhauled her rival and passed her at the Sandspit buoy. Keepa, however, made a game fight to regain the lead again, but was unable to do so. The finishing times wore: She. 4h. 27m. 155.; Keepa, 4h. 28m. Os.

Claes B.—The only entrants were Mr Oliver’s and Mr Gittos’ boats, and they were despatched to a splendid start at 3h. 10m. ,p.m. The latter boat got the lead at the start, but the former soon took that position. A good race ensued around the course, and the race finished: Oliver, 4h. sm. Os.; Gittos, 4h. 13m. 455.

A New Speed Launch. A new speed launch was launched last week by Mr. James Reid, to the order of Messrs. Whitson Bros. (W. and A. Ryan, Limited), and was quite the centre of interest for yachtsmen on the King’s Birthday. The launch, which is somewhat on similar lines to the famous Togo, which the same firm had built some years since, is 30ft. in length, and is fitted with a 25 horse-power “ Ferro ” engine. On her trial runs on Tuesday last, the launch put up a very good record, making a speed of a little over 17 knobs per hour. Of course, like all high speed boats with a short length and a powerful engine, the P.D.Q., which is the name of the new launch, is decidedly on the “ damp ” side, as I found out when I went out in her at the invitation of the owners on Tuesday. After taking a turn up and down the harbour, with a strong westerly wind blowing and a fairly choppy sea, the order was given to make for Takapuna wharf at “full bore.” Well, of course, in these times of making as short a passage as you can, the P.D.Q. “cut it out,” and just about made Togo’s rate of speed. It was quite an experience for me, because although I had made the same trip in the great Sydney oil launch Invincible some years ago, the latter had a bit of shelter for us from the spray which is thrown up by a small boat going about 17 knots per hour. However, in the P.D.Q. you simply have to “ sit tight,” and take all the spray. In insdie of a quarter of an hour -—although I had my oilskins on—l was as wet as the proverbial “ shag.” During the afternoon the launch was enabled to pass everything which had a long lead, and circled round the quick ferry steamers in a way which caused the passengers to wonder whether it was a torpedo destroyer, or something of the same character. After my experience on the P.D.Q., I should advise my readers, if they are approached to take a trip in the speedy launch, to remember what London “ Punch ” years ago advised people who were about to marry — “Don’t!”