Sports and Pastimes.

New Zealand Graphic, Volume XLIV, Issue 14, 6 April 1910, Page 8

Sports and Pastimes.

WITH SAIL and MOTOR NEWS FROM THE WATER (Special to " Graphic.") I'IXTVHES. April 9 — North Shore Yacht Club Open t ’bani pionship. April 1!) — Fousonby Ci vising Club Harbour Have. THE weather on Saturday and Sunday was of the best from a yachtsman’s point of view, there being a light breeze blowing from north-north-east on Saturday, changing into the south-east on Sunday, with a calm sea. There was a large fleet of boats, both sail and power, out to tiie usual cruising grounds. The easterly gale of last week gave owners of yachts on both shores of the Waitemata some anxiety for a while, as the gale was of exceptional violence, and it is a wonder that more damage to the ya hts did not take place. The gale should not be without its lesson to yachtowners, to sec that their boats are properly secured against all possible changes of wind and weather. The Waitemai'a presented one of the ‘‘fairy’’ < lass of pictures from an aquatic point of view on Saturday afternoon, owing to the largo, number of yachts of all classes which were afloat. From the upper reaches of the harbour right down below Brown’s Island it was a continual procession of yachts, as besides those engaged in the races of the North Shore Yaudit Club and ithe Victoria (Taking ( lub there were sail and power yachts innumerable, bound off for the week-end cruise. The oil launch Alice, which was recently sold by Mr. C. Bailey, jun., of Auckland, to a gentleman at Tonga, has proved herself very satisfactory to her new' owner, who, in a private letter to friends in Auckland, states Mint the Alice has far exceeded his expectations. r i lie 25-Foot power launch Stevenden Von, formerly owned by Mr. Dormer, has recently been purchased by Messrs. S. Garlick, R. Dillon, and L. Eady. During the Easter holidays the crew of the boat had a mod enfo cable cruise round M aiheke. \ very handsome looking rowing ski If of 16 feet has just been built by Mr. (’. Bailey, junr., for the Misses Cato, of N«ipier, and will Im' shipped to that port thi- week. The skill* is built of cedar, and is completely fitted throughout. the big North Shore yacht, which returned from an extended cruise to the North last week, was one of the ■worst sufferers by the easterly gale. The Ffenm-yacht Rehuti got foul of the sailer during the height of the gale, and did a considerable amount of damage to her. Considerable interest is being taken at the present time in a proposal re the appointment of handicappers for the various yachting ami sailing clubs. It has been mooted that a meeting should be held of delegates from all the clubs during the close season, and see if something definite on the subject cannot be arranged. So far as I can learn it is proposed that three of four yachtsmen who understand “the. business” should be engaged to handicap the yachts of all the chibs engaged in races, each club contributing its quota for the fee arranged for the services of the handicappers. I have had to express my opinion on several occasions that some of nip younger yachtsmen should “go to school** and take a few lessons from their elder* as to how to handle a yacht. This is more particularly the case as to “the ruhr of the road,” which a very large number of those in charge of yachts only seem to Lave the smallest idea of. On the night, of March 24, when the harbour was full of yachts of all classes. hastening away for the Mister eriii-e, this lack of knowledge was largely in. evidence; in fact, s«> much so that disaster was only averted by the superior knowledge of yachtsmanfihip of “ the <\Vr fellow.” I hope that during the cTo<o season this year, the Jnung vaohUruan will take advantage of lie opportunity afforded them to take a few lessons.

The behaviour of some local yachtsmen who were away for the Easter cruise in the Gulf, will, 1 understand, be the subject of a very searching inquiry by the officers of the club to which they belong. Some years ago this was a. very common complaint, but owing to very strong measures being taken, the trouble was done away with. Latterly, however, 1 am sorry to say, the grievance has again co me into evidence, but I trust that the matter will be “ handled without gloves ” by the officials. Some young fellows who go away in a yacht appear to have the notion that once they are clear of the harbour they are quite out of control. Well, all I hope is that they will be shown that their notion is decidedly on the wrong side.