SAILING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVII, Issue 263, 10 November 1906, Page 12

SAILING.

Mr. D. Spencer expects to launch his new yacht today. The Seagull, Why Not, Gloriana, Wind-ward, Rosina, May-Belle, lolanthe and Hetty -were launched this week. North Shore Yacht Club's first general handicap race \\ ill be held on Saturday next. The first prize is Mr. Buchanan's trophy, -which trill be -won outright by the winner. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron are holding class handicap races on next Saturday week. It is improbable (says a London correspondent of the "Yorkshire Post") that any challenge will be made by Siv Thomas Lipton for the America Cup. For many months past he has been sounding British d&signers, and at the time of the International Conference on Rating a well known expert was consulted, both with a vimv to the attitide of the Xew York Yacht Club and to the changes which the new rating ] rule have wronght in the design of firstclass American yachts. But Sir Thomas is further than ever from '"lifting" the Cup. The three challenges with the Shamrocks were met by the New York Yacht Club with overwhelming courtesy, and no demand for reducing the stringency of the conditions was considered too great. This courtesy, however, is no longer shown. The old conditions which hedge the Cup from British or any other grasp have been set up, and i all Sir Thomas Lipton's resources have ! been exhausted in attempts to break j them down. Yacht building in America .has, moreover, developed rapidly, and on the most scientific lines, and only recently a magnificent 90-foot racer "was launched which eclipses the speed of I the defender of the Cup. Mr. William Fife, tho noted Clyde designer, rega-rds ! the America Cup as being safely locked jin the possession of the Xew Yor.k Yacht I Club so long as the present conditions j are enforced. The late Mr. G. L. Wat- | son, -who was responsible for the development of scientific yacht building jin this country, also held the. same opinion, and these conditions are so manifestly and absurdly unfair that i British yachtsmen have long eince forI gotten that the. America- Chip exists exI uppt as a,n obsolete trophy in the lockers ;of the New York Yacht Cluh. All ad , - I vances and proposals are met with the j stereotyped reply from Xew York: j '"Send us your challenge, and we will I discuss liTins," thereby inviting a leap iin the dark. The reason was opened yesterday, when there was a good display of yachts from all the clubs. The manoeuvres were carried out under the auspices of the Royal Xow Zealand Yacht Squadron. After the display the j boats left ior Mateatea Bay. To-day [the Squadron boats were to start on a j rac-e to Kawau. The night will be spent there, and to-morrow the boats will visit Waivvera, and will return to the harbour during the afternoon. The yachts Thclma, Xgatira, and Viola were at Rocky Bay (Waiheke) for the last week end. There were also two or three other boats in the bay. The Ehoa has been sold to a Welling ton gentleman. She was shipped by I the Tarawera last Saturday. All tha big boats were launched at the. time of writing, excepting Ariki and Kotiri. Ariki was expected to be placed in the water for the opening day, but the Kotiri will not be launched for some time. The boats launched during the last work include the Viking, Ida, and Moana. Tim Moana did some -harbour sailing on Sunday. Messrs. Bailey and Lowe are building a 22ft patiki for Messrs. Stevens and Bruce for delivery about the middle, of this month. Bishop Loiihan has granted the Victoria Cruising Club the use of a plot of ground near the Victoria Park, and the club has decided to build a clubhouse on the land. The ways and means have been considered, and I \mderstand that the building will be commenced shortly. Mr. A. T. Pittar arrived in Auckland by the last Sydney steamer, and, I understand, intends to reside here. Just before leaving Sydney he sold his Auckland built yacht Rawhiti to Mr. Brokolf, and as he is an enthusiastic yachtsman and a member of the Royal New Zeala.nd Yacht Squadron he will no doubt take an active interest in local sailing matters. i