YACHTING.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume VI, Issue 275, 31 October 1895, Page 5

YACHTING.

The harbour is beginning to put on its summer appearance, with the yachts at their moorings or sailing about. The Ngaru, Awatea, and Mabel have made an early start; they visited Mateatea on Saturday. It looks after all as if Valkyrie 111. will be the challenger for next season’s America Cup contest. Mr Rost has withdrawn his challenge, owing, it is said, to the unfavourable comments which have been made by American papers upon his expressed approval of Lord Dunraven’s actions in the recent contest.

The Rarere, the 2^-rater built by Mr R. Logan, was launched on to the beach at the Shore last week, and excited a great amount of interest among enthusiasts. She is a rakish-looking craft, and her mast is stepped well forward, giving her a very long boom. Leading will evidently be her strong point, but her deep fin-like keel will also make her hang well up in the wind when beating. The new boat was laying alongside the Gloriana, so that a good opportunity was given of comparing the two. When launched, the old flyer was considered very fine, but she does not look quite so fine now. My idea is that if the Gloriana was given an up-to-date rig and had her lead keel remoulded, she would hold her own with the new boats.

The Yum Yura , and Rangatira were out on Sunday. The latter has been refurnished in rather an elaborate style, and I am told she looks very well “ down below.”

Nearly all the small fry are in the water, and many of them were having a fly round on Sunday. The new 5-rater being built by Messrs Bailey Bros, should be in the water about a fortnight hence, and, judging by the fine lines on which she is being put together, she should make things very sultry in her class.