AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 809, 7 September 1905, Page 15

AQUATICS.

(By

“The Reefer.”)

I learn that the North Shore cutter Daisy JI. has now joined the fishing fleet

Yachtsmen are making a start to get their yachts in trim for the approaching season. 3 At North Shore the pleasure ■craft hauled up are being cleaned, painted, and the gear overhauled. Olympic has had a new centre-board case fitted, besides other repairs. Iris has been given a heavier keel. Rewi has been changed from a centre-board to a keel yacht. At St. Mary's’ and St. George’s beaches most of the yachts are receiving attention/ 'lt/ » - • ♦ • * *

Mr.--A, T. Pittar left the naming of his new' yacht to the builders, and they have , decided upon Rawhiti. Most people .would have preferred the English ■equivalent, Sunshine. The new boat has perhaps the most beautiful lines of any yet turned out of Logan Bros.’ yards, which ispaying a good deal.

. A requisition which has been extensively signed by the members, has been presented to Commodore C. P. Murdoch asking him to stand again this year for the office of commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The genial skipper of Ida, although of opinion that it is about time someone else had an innings, has consented to act for another year. Good’news, this.

The movement' for the establishment of the Motor Boat Club of New South

Wales has met with such gratifying results that even the expectations of the promoters and well-wishers have been more than realised (says the “ Referee.”) The club is adding to its membership roll every day. Starting on July 6 with .a total of 45, it now boasts of 108, and it is expected that before the season opens this will be increased to at least 120. Some idea of the club’s importance, from an aquatic point of view, may be gathered from the fact that it already contains more boat-owners than the whole of the other clubs combined.

In connection with the late Henley regatta, a writer says:—“Among boating men, the extraordinary conduct of the Belgian crew excited much remark: the visitors belonging to the Belgian Rowing Club, or some of them, were detected in the. act of eating ices just before rowing heat for the Grand Challenge Cup Such -an outrage against elementary principles of training shocked English men beyond power of criticism. Then the Belgians aggravated matters by.yinning the heat!”

Latest English files give particulars of the' contest for the long-distance swim ming championship of England, which took place on the Thames, from Kew to Putney. The title had been held for seven years by J. A. Jarvis, of Leicester, but he was this time beaten by D. Billington, of- Cacup, and B. B. Kieran, the Australian champion. There was a great race between the two latter. Billington led from the start, and at Chis wick was 50 yards in front of Kieran and Jarvis, who were then swimming almost level. By the time Hammersmith Bridge was reached, Billington had increased his lead to 60 yards, while Jarvis had dropped back about 80 "ards behind Kieran.. As soon as he had passed hirder-Sthe bridge, the Australian began hard. He rapidly overhauled the leader, and the excitement grew intense. Not until he was 20 yards from Putney Pier was itcertain that Billington would win, but-;He managed to hold his own and win by five yards in Ihr Bmiu 55sec. J. A. Jarvis, the holder of the championship finished th«r<|* a quarter of a mile behind Kieran, while the time of A. G. Harvey, of the Ravensbourne Club, who finished fourth, was nearly .minutes slower than that of Jarvis, "

An Irish Naval Reserve man was “ up’’ for six months’ training in a man-o’-war, and it was his first turn for taking soundings. When the officer on watch asked him what water he had, Pat was to use a naval expression, “ tubbed.” “ Come out of that!” said the officer. “ I’ll show you how to take soundings.” But just as he got the lead on the swing, away went the breast-rope, and of course the officer went overboard. Just after the captain came up and asked : ‘ ‘ What soundings, leadsman?” “I dunno, sir,” says Pat. “ There’s a chap just gone over to find out, and he hasn’t come up yet.”