YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 224, 21 September 1928, Page 13

YACHTING.

ANNUAL. MEETINGS.

ROYAL N.Z. YACHT SQUADRON. CLUB NOTES.

(By SPEEDWELL.)

The 571 h annual meeting of the Royal Now Zealand Yaclit Squadron will be held in the club rooms, Endeau'a Buildings, on Friday, September 28, at 8 p.m. The report o£ the past season's activities shown the club to be in a very flourishing state. Membership totals 503, 43 new members being elected during tho year. As in past years the Squadron assisted tho oflieials of the Tauranga, Russell and Mercury Bay regattas by accepting entries and starting their ocean races. Two new 18ft "M" class boats were built during the year and increased the interest and keen competition in this sporting class. Racing generally was keen, mid some close and exciting linishes were seen. Harbour races were held on four days and cruising events on tliree days. His Excellency the Covernor, Sir Charles l'Vignsson, look part as a member of the crew of A tiki in the race for a cup presented by himself, Air. W. l\ Endean's I'ri/o being the winner. Thanks are tendered to t aptain H. 11. Sergeant foi laving <>ir a. new racing course and laying turning marks. At a meeting of owners of tirst and second class yachts the following regulations were proposed and later adopted by the committee: —(a) li All handicap races all yachts other thai restricted class yachts shall declare theii measurement of sail area at the begin ning of the season; any alteration must bo notified at time of-entry. (b) Nc vator sails to be carried in harbour races (e) Spinnaker boOms shall be carried or the mast. A meeting of owners of 18 footers was also held to discuss the ex listing restrictions. Tho only amendmen suggested was that boats be limited ti one spinnaker which must not be se 1 with the tack to leeward of the mast Regret is expressed at the death of Mr (lias. Hartley, of Tauranga, and Mr. A J. Bond, of Hamilton. During the yea the club's premises have been extended and now occupy the whole of the to] floor. Since March a luncheon has beei provided on the premises. This innova tion proved to be very popular, and ha nhown « Small profit. The ann'ial prize night was well at tended, the trophies being presented b; Mr. E. V. Miller, one of the Squadron' oldest and most active members. Th balance-sheet reveals the extent of thi club's income and expenditure. The tota receipts for the year amounted to £347 8/10. Subscriptions accounted for £135 of this total; entrance fees from ne\ members, £07; locker rents, £147; billiar receipts, £200; race entry fees, £58; priz money donated, £89. The expenditur leaves a credit balance on the year's wor of £234 7/6. A proposal will come befor members at the annual meeting in refei ence to the subscription payable b, members of 25 years' standing and ovei which has the approval of the committe<

CLUB JOTTINGS. A novelty in the shape of a san yuellt will DC seen on Orewa Beach thi season. It has been constructed b Mr. A. Thompson, commodore of 11) Vuiisonby Cruising Club, wlio will 11 his symbol of othco on this Strang craft. Driven by one sail, a speed c übout 30 in lie a is expected to be attaine on the epiendid level beach at Qrewi This beach is over two miles long, an ultnost a-quarter of a nnle wide at loi water, with a hard surface, ideal fo motoring or anything on wheels. Anotner fast cruiser will bo added t our existing fleet of over 700 inotoi driven pleasure craft on the Waitc inata, when work is completed on a 42 looter ii6vv in coursc of construction b, C. Wild at his yards, Stanley Bay. Th boat will bo built on the V-botton principle, her dimensions being 42ft b; 10ft Gin beam and 2ft 9in draught. Sh is to tlie order of the Cray Marine En gine Co., of Detroit, U.S.A., who hav< established a branch in Auckland, Sht will be fitted with one ot the lirm'i latest straight-eight I*s h.p. engines ant have the usual littings, her main cabii being lift »>in and fore cabin 9ft. Thii boat will visit all our popular. yachtiuj resorts during the summer, from Bay o: Islands In the north to Opotiki, on tin I,list Coast. She will carry spare parts for Gray engines. This i& an innova tion which should appeal to boat owners and refleuta credit on the enterprise ol the firm concerned. She will be ready

tor tho water early in December. The Whangarei Cruising Club may I Raid to be fairly on its feet, judging b Hie last report and balance-sheet. Th liuiitJiig community of Whangarei an surrounding districts is becoming aliv to the benelits of the'club, and member ship is increasing. The fleet of sail an |K)\ver boats is also growing, the lutes additions being the 38-footer Jeuness> purchased by Messrs. Weston Bros After the prizes were presented aui other business of the annual meeting concluded, members adjourned to ai adjacent hall, where the retiring hon secretary, Mr. T. J. Simmonds, wai farewelled. Mention was made by th< commodore of the good work done bj .Mr. Simmoiids since the formation <jl the club, and he will leave for Gisliornf with the best wishes of his fellow members. At thia meeting special mention was made of the good showing of the Whangarei crcw in last season's Cornwe.l Cup contest, and the hope expressed that they would be successful this year. The club will open the season on Labour Day, October 22, with a cruise in company down harbour. Next week the annual meetings of four local clubs will be held, and this will complete the list, except for the Power Boat Association. Next Tuesday the Richmond Club will hold the annual meeting in the usual place. On "Wednesday the Akarana Yacht Club will hold their 33rd annual meeting in the new clubhouse, St. George's Bay. Mr. T. McKay is the only nominee for commodore of this club, Mr. A. Braund declining to stand for a further term. Mr. F. W. Jeffers is the only one nominated for the office of vice-commodore, and is therefore elected. Ft>r the position of rrar-commodore tliere are no less than mi _ .1..L1

i iiroc nominations. ine ciuonouse already proving very popular with members, ''radically all lockers at present available being taken tip. The committee has decided to continue the weekly dancc 011 Saturdays, and the third of the aeries will be held to-mor-row evening. Many gifts of pictures have been reeeived, and-the clubhouse is beginning to look quite smartly furnished.

Tlic Tamaki Yacht Club, the "baby" of our local clubs, will hold the third annual meeting in Grey's Hall, Kohimararna, on Thursday evening. Several officers are retiring, but good men have come forward to take their places, and it is hoped to carry on with greater vigour than ever. Next Friday the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will hold their 57th annual meeting in the clubhouse, Kndean's Buildings, Queen Street. The present commodore, Sir. John W. Frater, is retiring after completing two years of office, and Mr. W P. Endean lias been nominated for the position. The vacancy of vice-commodore caused by Mr. Ell- - elevation will be filled by Mr. N. L. Macky stepping up from rearcommodore. For the office of rearcommodore Mr. A. H. Court is the only nominee. Extracts from the report and balance-sheet appear elsewhere. A meeting of members of the Takapuna Boating Club and others interested in tho Cornwell Cup contest was held last evening in the clubhouse, Mr. J. J. Mackay, commodore, presiding over a good attendance, including four of' last year's delegates. The business was to discuss the location for the next Cornwell Cup contest. It was decided that! while the club was keen to hold this year's contest on the Waitemata, they were prepared, in the interests of the contest, to defend the cup at any port in New Zealand if requested to do so. Messrs. A. Rambaud, F. Skerritt, and C. Brinsden were appointed selectors, and Mr. C. H. Hoverd, secretary to the Cornwell Cup Committee. A meeting of delegates of the Auck--1 land Yacht And Motor Boat Association will be held in tho Royal New Zealand • Yacht Squadron rooms, on Tuesday next, ' at 8 p.m., when the tenders and others i matters in connection with the handbook ■ will be dealt with. Mr. Norman Wilson, who for the past - two years has held the office of coxnnxo- ' dure of the Manukau Yacht and M°tor • Boat Club, was presented with a hand-

some clock and barometer on retiring from this position. Mr. Arthur McLeod (president), when making the presentation, said the club owed much to the energies of Mr. Wilson, especially for the way he had worked to establish the 12ft (iin Takapuna one-design class on the Manukau. Although he was not seeking re-election as commodore, he had agreed to continue his interest in the 12ft 6in class. The club would benefit by his experience, and Mr. Wilson had been given sole charge of the one-design boats. The annual meeting and presentation of prizes "of the New Zealand Power Boat Association, which was to have been held on Wednesday, October 3, has been : postponed until Wednesday, October 31, owing to tlie absence from the city of same of the officers. Nominations for

officers and committee will close one week prior to the meeting. The Victoria Cruising Club had a good attendance at their meeting last evening, Thursday evidently proving a more popular night tlian Wednesday. Three racing officials were elected for the season, and some discussion took place on the question of the opening and closing days' racing being conducted solely by ohe Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Vssociation. The idea was that the assoiation receive all entrance fees and pay prizes. This would mean that only one boat in each class could receive a prize. The question opens out others, and it is doubtful if clubs will forego entry fees on the day. It would certainly save the collection of mauy prizes, which is a consideration. The matter wants further | discussion by all clubs. An Ellerslie correspondent asks where plans and specifications of the Takapuna Club's 12ft Gin one-design class can be j obtained. If he will write to tho secretary, club bouse, Bayswater, the necessary ' plans will be gladly forwarded to him.

PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB. TWENTY-EIGHTH ANNUAL MEETING, The twenty-eighth annual meeting of the Ponsonby Cruising Club was held last evening in the clubhouse, St. Mary's Bay, Mr. A. Thompson presiding. The report, submitted by the hon. secretary, Mr. It. Francis, stated that racing was held on five days, the regatta being a great success, and Captain Burgess was thanked for bis courtesy in placing the S.Y. Southern Cross at the disposal of the committee as flagship. A combined race with the Victoria and Richmond Clubs was also successfully carried out through the courtesy of the clubs mentioned.

A splendid sailing breeze prevailed on "Cup Day," when the race for the Liptou Cup caused great iuterest, the finish being declared, a dead heat between the representatives of the Akarana Yacht Club and the Manukau Cruising Club. The Hewson Memorial Cup was won by Itooa, after a good performance by her youthful crew.

The clubhouse had been carefully tended, and their thankß were due to Mr. 11, Murphy, locker steward, and Mr. S. Tilly, clubnouse captain, for their close attention to duties connected with the sume. The efforts of the ladies' committee in-carrying on dances were much appreciated, and club fuuds liad benefited by it. It was proposed to replace the present piano, and donations of £19 17/ were already promised.

The cash prizes and trophies allotted during the past season amounted to £150. In addition to this cups were competed for valued at £ The thanks of the club were due'to Messrs. E. J. Kelly, C. J. Collings and A. Thompson for collection of regatta funds, and to Messrs. J. Burns and Co.. and E. J. Kelly and Co., for collection of entries.

The balance-sheet, submitted by tbe hon. treasurer, Mr. H. K. Arthur, showed subscriptions to be £44 18/, entrance fees £42 3/, donations to regatta £ 107 10/, locker rents £312 12/. The Hewson fund was in creilit £104 15/11, and the building fund £270 7/1, while the credit on the year's work amounted to £3i) 10/. Assets are valued at £702, with no liabilities.

Moving the adoption of the report and balance sheet, Mr. Thompson said it reflected credit on all concerned, and he trusted the coming season would be even better. With the completion of the boat harbour they would have the majority of the yachts in Auckland moored at their door, and he hoped the club would grasp tbe opportunity of extending the facilities to be offered to boat-ownurs, which should result In a great Increase of members.

The following officers were elected for the coming season :—l'atron, Mr. M. Boowles; president, Mr. C. J. Coliings; vice-presi-dents, as last } ear; commodore, Mr. A. Thompson; vice-commodore, Mr. W. Sinclair ; rear-eommodore, Mr. J. McWhirter; Uou. treasurer, Mr. H. H. Arthur; hon. secr tary, Mr. K. Francis; assist, secretary, Mr. \V. Lusty; locker steward, Mr. R. Murphy; clubhouse captain, Mr. S. Tiliy; auditor, Mr. A. Craig; hon. architect, Mr. J. Lloyd ; hon. solicitor, Mr. A.. Simpson; measurers, Messrs. E. J. Kelly and C. J. Coliings; delegates to Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, Messrs. T. Qulnn and H. Kirkham ; committee, Mesifrs. J. Edwards, W. J. Joynt, H. Kirkliam, S. Tilly, T. Quinn, W. Lusty, Li Weston. W. Wardell, R. Reed, W. Thomas, H. Sinythe, T. Fookes, E. Matay, L. Simpson, and C. Robertson. The election of racing officials and handlcapxiers was deferred until the frst meetinn of the committee. « On the, motion of the chairman. Messrs. H. R. Arthur and S. Tilly were unanimously elected honorary life members in recognition of their long service to tie club. Both gentlemen suitably acknowledged the honour. It was decided to write off a sum equal to 10 per cent per annuip on the value of the clubhouse.

i A vote of thanks to the outgoing officers and committee, and to the Press, concluded the business. «*