AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIV, Issue 813, 5 October 1905, Page 15

AQUATICS.

(By

“ The Reefer.”)

The Lapthorne sails for the new cutter Rawhiti are due early next week. In the meantime the vessel will be given a spin, or two under cruising canvas. I understand she will carry a trysail on the voyage across the Tasman Sea. Mr. W. Evers,’ who has resigned the position of captain of the Waitemata Boating Club, has been made a life member. The following is the text of the address recently presented to Mr. C. P. Murdoch : — Auckland, September 21, 1905. Dear Sir, —On this the occasion of your re-election as Commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, the members desire you to accept the accompanying purse of sovereigns as evidence of the very high esteem in which they hold you, and also as a small token of their appreciation of your kindness in again consenting to sacrifice your personal convenience and accept office in response to their requisition. They also desire to take this opportunity of congratulating you on having been the first Commodore of the Squadron, to which position you have been unanimously re-elected for five successive years, showing that the members have gratelully appreciated the selfdenying zeal and unfailing tact which you have displayed in navigating the Squadron to the safe and prosperous waters in which it now finds itself. Trusting that you may long enjoy health and strength to take a leading place in the cruises and councils of the Squadron, and wishing you every prosperity and happiness. We are, on behalf of the members, yours faithfully, Alex. Alison; Vice-Commodore; John Alexander, Rear-Commodore; J. C. Macky, Chairman of Committee; F. E. Jackson, Chas. Seagar, Committee. « • • * Things are very busy just now amongst the Ponsonby yachtsmen. A Sunday morning visit to their haunts discloses any amount of active preparation. Masts and booms are being scraped and varnished, a coat of paint administered here and there upon hulls where the work is more forward, and hosing down and scrubbing upon others.

Sunday morning's weather was tempting enough to coax out several of the small centreboard boats, but the warning that was written in the sky was amply justified by a stiff nor’-west breeze and a massing of heavy cloud banks in the afternoon. There is plenty of time yet before making a start for the season.

Buckridge’s boat, the Kia-Ora, still lies high and dry under the cliff at Stanley Bay. This little craft, in which the ill-fated voyage round the Horn was attempted, looks staunch enough to meet any weather. Her chief fault, however, seems to lie in the fact that she is too short, and no doubt to meet a good Cape Horn breeze in a boat of her size would be to experience something in the hairraising line.

In the old Matangi, lying near her, there is a good sample of the old school of yacht. She looms up above one like a three-decker, and in her day has carried many a rollicking crew on voyages full of keen, sportsmanlike adventure.