AQUATICS

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XII, Issue 708, 1 October 1903, Page 12

AQUATICS

(By " The Reefer.”) The big auxiliary yacht Valhalla, owned by the Earl of Crawford, which was expected some time ago in Auckland, but got no nearer than Suva, arrived back at Cowes just prior to the last mail leaving, after a nine months’ cruise round the world. The rowing season was opened in Wellington, on Saturday, under very adverse weather conditions, as a strong northerly wind made the water too lumpy to allow of the procession of boats taking place. Lord Ranfurly was present at the opening •ceremony. * * * * The annual meeting of the Hauraki Rowing Club was held at the Thames on Thursday, Mr T. Sommierville presiding. The officers elected for the ensuing year were as follows :—Commodore, Mr A. M. Myers (re-elected) ; patron, the Hon. J. McGowan (re-elected); president, Mr J. M. Foy (re-elected) ; hop. secretary and treasurer, Mr T. Mullins ; auditor, Mr T. Sommerville ; captain, Mr J. Mclntyre ; vice-captain, Mr T. Scott; committee, Messrs Mclntyre, Scott, Mullins, Hammond, Wright, F. Sawyer and Donkin. A 'writer in the “Sydney Mail” has. the following somewhat optimistic remarks on an Australian challenger for the America Cup :—“ If the two great New Zealand builders (Messrs Logan and Bailey) were to agree upon a model the writer believes it would be just the right thing to carry the sail which must be carried on a winner over the New York Club’s course, where the wind is such a humbug. We have a number of proofs that Auckland yachts are very hard to beat, and no matter how well bred the opponents, it is odds on the New Zealander. These are wood boats, but if metal has an advantage, the shape in wood would be better still in metal. There is a mistaken idea that the challenger must sail all the way to New York. This is not so. The Shamrocks were towed, and the conditions allow it. If Australia did challenge for the America Cup the yacht would be designed here, but built in England under the superintendence of the designer. It should be sailed by Australians, certainly, and if it were we should expect no time to be lost at the start, no bungling at setting sails, and no white feather.” I hardly see how a yacht designed in New Zealand and built in England could represent Australia with any credit to that country even if the scheme was feasible. • * * * At the first general committee meeting of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron the following committees were elected: —House : Messrs P. F. Battley, H. Haines, J. C. Hardie, F. W. Coombes, John Alexander. Sailing : Messrs R. S. Reynolds, F. W. Coombes, F. W. Wilson. Mr W. E. Alexander was elected assistant hon. secretary. The latter gentleman should do well in his new position, for he is full of enthusiasm for aquatic pursuits, and is certain to prove popular.

The annual genera] meeting of the Auckland Rowing Association will take place on Monday, October 12. The opening s pf the season has been fixed for the following Saturday.

A cable from London states that Captain Walls, of Sydney, is arranging to build a yacht in England to contest the America Cup next year. He will (exhibit his twin circular keels at the Brighton International Exhibition of Inventions. I must confess to pleading ignorance as to what is meant by twin circular keels l , without the boat is to be a double-hulled one. Until more is learned about it I prefer to remain somewhat sceptical as to the genuine nature of the project.