AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XI, Issue 510, 27 September 1900, Page 8

AQUATICS

I By

Spinnaker.]

The annual meeting of the Auckland Yacht Club was held in the Harbour Board Offices on the 19th inst. There was a fair attendance. The commodore, Mr John Wiseman, presided. I he report and balance-sheet were read and adopted, showing the Club to be in a flourishing condition. The balance-sheet showed that the receipts amounted to £260 12s lid (including balance from last year of £B3 9s 2d) The expenditure was £7B 8s 4d, leaving a balance in hand of £lB2 4s 7d. The assets of the Club (including cash) were set down at £2ll 5s 6d. with no liabilities. The balance-sheet was also adopted. Election of officers: Commodore, Mr John Wiseman ; vice-commodore, Mr 0. P. Murdoch ; rear-commodore, Mr W. Jagger; treasurer, Mr R. 8. Reynolds ; secretary, Mr GT. H. Bellamy ; assistant-secretary, Mr 0 E Battley ; auditors, Messrs J. O. Webster and E. Davis; measurers, Captain Gibbs and Mr A. Buchanan ; committee, Messrs H. Haines, F. Wilson, A. Buchanan, J. C. Hardie, P. F. Battley, 0. B. Stone, J. W. G. V. Edgcumbe, and R. R Masefield. Tbe number of members now on the roll is 174. The annual subscription was fixed at £1 Is. In accordance with the revised rules of the Club, the matter of fixing an entrance fee was left in the hands of the General Committee. The secretary explained that it had been decided by the Committee to take two rooms in Palmerston Buildings, and fit them up as Clubrooms for the use of members of the Club. The recommendation of the Committee that two new classes of yachts be placed on the Club’s race programme for the ensuing season, viz., 24-footers and 18footers (linear rating), was carried. Hearty votes of thanks were passed to the outgoing

officers and Committee, to the Harbour Board, and the press.

Messrs Logan Bros, launched the two yachts they have just completed to the order of two Sydney yachtsmen last week. When floated it was noticeable how neatly they trimmed to the designed water line, much to the satisfaction of the builders and spectators They are built under what is known as the “ fast cruiser” class, similar to the Aoma, which was so successful in winning races last season in Sydney waters. Both yachts are built on exactly the same lines. The dimensions are as follows —3O foot L.R., 40 feet overall, 27 feet on the water line, 5 feet 6 inches draft of water, 7 feet 9 inches beam They are of kauri, diagonal built, with 2 J tone of lead on the keel. The epars are of American spruce pine. The deck fittings, including cabin skylight, companion, forescuttle, etc., are of teak. The rigging screws and other fittings are of brass. The fittings in the cabins are executed in the latest style, the wood work being panels of polished New Zealand woods, viz., mottled kauri, rimu, and puriri, and upholstered in pautascote cushions, which material is a new departure in yacht fittings, being specially adapted for standing the wet and damp air. “ Heather ” is the name chosen by Dr Gordon Craig for his yacht, whilst the other, that built for Mr S. Dempster, has been christened “ Petrel.” Both yachts were shipped to Sydney by the s.s. Waihora on Monday last. The general appearance of the boats reflects great credit on the skill and workmanship of the builders, and we wish them every success in the Australian waters.

In the 500yds contest at Glasgow J. A. Jarvis, amateur champion, conceding 30sec, beat Lindberg, the Australian, by 40yds. Time, 6min 45sec.

The Parnell Sailing Club held a meeting last week to consider the question of sail measurement, etc. It was decided that in future the sail area of “ patikis ” be 200 ft and under, and that all centreboards be of one design and one size Sails are also to be stamped officially by the Club. It was also decided that the Club races be sailed on the following dates November 17, December 15, January 26, and March 5. Mr A. T. Pittar, the owner of Auckland's crack yacht Rainbow, has decided to pay Lyttelton a visit for the champion yacht race in January. He has secured an amateur crew, who will accompany him for the cruise. It is proposed to leave Auckland at the end of November, and visit way ports, timing the yacht to reach Lyttelton about a week before the race. It is also probable that the Auckland ten-rater Thelma, owned by Jagger Bros, will make the journey to Lyttelton.

A public meeting was held in the Waitemata Hotel, on September 21st, to consider the question of the Anniversary Regatta. There was only a moderate attendance, and Mr W. O. Somers was elected to the chair. Mr O. C. Dacre explained that he called the meeting as secretary of the last regatta, held in 1899, and thought it was a great pity that tbe regatta should be allowed to fall through. The Chairman said the whole trouble in the past had been the collecting of funds to carry out the regatta. After discussing ways and means it was resolved, “ That in the opinion of this meeting it is desirable to carry out the Anniversary Regatta on January 29, 1901.” The following committee were elected, with power to add o their number .—Messrs Arthur H. Nathan, W. -C. Somers, R. Masefield, 0. P. Murdoch, D. Gouk, J. O. Webster, 0. B Stone, E. H. Montgomery, W. Wilkinson, O. C. Dacre, Thompson, T-r Maitland, Captains Nearing, Streater, Duder, and Parker. Mr 0. C. Dacre was appointed secretary pro tem. It was also resolved, “ That the Auckland T acht Club, the Parnell and North Shore Sailing Clubs, the Ponsonby yachtsmen, and the various rowing clubs ba written to, and asked to seed two delegates each to act on the committee of the Anniv-rsary Regatta of 1901.” The appointment of cfficers was left over until the next meeting, which is to be held on October 4, by which time replies are expected to be received from the yacht and rowing clubs.

The members of the Auckland Yacht Club do not appear to be very keen on a regatta this season. If the members of the sailing clubs and boat owners do not take any interest in the matter we can hardly expect the public to support them. lam certainly of the same opinion as the Commodore of the Yacht Club, when he stated at the Annual Meeting last week that it was a disgrace that a place like Auckland should allow the'r annual regatta to fall through. The matter was discussed at their meeting, and it was finally decided not to take any steps regarding the matter, also declining to appoint delegates to c mfer with a general meeting on the subject. Are we to infer from their action that they a r e waiting for the public to take it up, and make all arrangements for them, or is the mother club to be shown the lead by the suburban clubs ? We cannot think that, with all the advantages of our beautiful harbour and our splendid fleet of boats, equal to any in the colonies, yachtsmen, with the help of the rowing clubs and the support of the public, the Auckland Yacht Club wiil allow so cld a fixture to die out

The North Shore Rowing Club held their annual meeting last week. The annual report stated that the 01 ..b had had a very successful year, the balance-sheet showing the assets to be £.22 19s over liabilities. The following officers were elected for the ensu’ng season:—Captain, Mr W. Swinnerton (re-elected) ; deputy-captain, Mr J. B. Gould ; hon treasurer, Mr F. L. Davis (re elected) ; hon secretary, Mr 0. 8. Cave (reelected) ; committee, Messrs F. Burgess, H. Mann, J. Sullivan, D. Richardson, and F. Best. A cablegram states that the amateur swimming championship of 220yds at Birmingham was a splendid contest. In the final heat F. Lane, the Australian, lei J. H. Derbyshire, but the latter, by a great effort, managed to make a dead heat. Time, 2min 34 4-ssec.