AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume IX, Issue 692, 11 June 1903, Page 9

AQUATICS

(By

“The Reefer.”)

The King recently presented to the English Life Saving Society a cup tor coin petition, and invitations are to be sent by the Society to the leading associations in Canada, the United States, France, Germany, Austria, Belgium, Hungary, Sweden, Denmark, Italy, Malta, Cape Colony, Natal, Australia, New Zealand, and India, asking them to send representatives to compete in a series o f three international races for the Cup, which are to be held in London on July 10 and 11 The country or colony whose representatives score the lowest aggregate of points in all of the contests will hold the Cup for the year.

“ Leander,” in the London “ Sportsman,” tenders George Read, the Sydney swimmer, some sound advice, in a recent issue of the paper mentioned. It was in consequence of an interview with Read, Read, which appeared ill a South Australian paper, when the swimmer named was in Adelaide, competing in various races. “ Leander ” says : —“ The holder of the world’s mile record of 24min JGsec, George Read, of Sydney, who was over here last year, but failed to win a championship, when interviewed in Adelaide some weeks ago, made a few remarks concerning English swimmers and swimming that should create a smile. He anticipates making another trip to England, and wishes to make a match with Joey Nuttall, who, according to Read, has backing for £lOOO. The only advice I can tender to Read —who has turned ‘ pro.’—is not to come to England with the idea that there is money in professional swimming. Firstr ly, the speedy professional men can be counted .on the fingers of one hand ; secondly, that Nuttall, although still a great, swimmer, would at his age, to say the least, be indiscreet ta make a match with a youngster of twenty years : and thirdly, that I do not think there is £lOOO backing for all the professional swimmers in England, even if they were bunched together.” ( • * * • , The Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron is starting classes for navigation, seamanship, yacht handling, etc., the series commencing next Monday. The syllabus includes lectures on Fibre and the Make of Ropes, Knotting and Bends, Whipping, Splicing, Serving, etc., and Compass Work, Lead Line,- Log Work, Signal Instruction, Rule of Road, Chart Work, and Meridian Altitude. Commodore Murdoch will act aa instructor, which is a sufficient guarantee that the matter will be properly handled. It should be of much benefit to the younger members of the Squadron. * ♦ * * Messrs Logan Bros, are in receipt of a cablegram from Mr w Mark Foy, of Sydney, instructing them to proceed with the construction of a 22ft racing boat, which the well-known Commodore of the Sydney Flying Squadron intends to take to England to sail against Maid of Kent, or her successor. It will be remembered that some seasons back Mr Foy took home the 22foOter Irex, but, as she was eleven years old at the time, no great surprise was evinced when she was defeated by the English representative, Maid of Kent. The type of Boat is one which is so extensively used in Sydney, and it is certainly a feather in the cap of. our local firm that such a famous builder of the type as Donnelly ! has been passed over in getting a new' racer. Possibly the remarkable performances of the Logan one-rater Mercia may have impressed the Colossus of Oxfordstreet with the fact that an overloaded boat, even if able to carry a tremendou spread of canvas, is not necessarily the fastest kind of vessel in a length class. Mr Foy has had doubts of this before, as h used tq race a double hulled craft—the Flying Fish—against the 22-footers, and on ' certain points of sailing she could often beat them. It is almost a pity that the order for the new challenger was not placed before, as the boat will be too late for the English season, and the home boat will have a big pull next year. No doubt the latest Logan production will be tested against the pick of the 22-footers in Port •Jackson. I shall be intensely surprised if she cannot beat the best of them.