RICHMOND CLUB.

Auckland Star, Volume LXXI, Issue 218, 13 September 1940, Page 11

RICHMOND CLUB.

ENTERS NEW HOME TO-MORROW. To-morrow will be a red-letter day for Richmond yachtsmen—the formal opening of the fine new clubhouse. The building lias been erected by the Auckland Harbour Board, the club paying an annual rental equal to 5 per cent of the coat. It is ornate and complete with every convenience for boat owners, with spacious lockers on the ground floor, a large balcony facing the sea, and a committee room on the first floor, with a look-out tower mirmounted with flagstaff and all facilities for the starting, timing and judging of club races. Thanks to the work of the officers and committee the building has been well furnished and everything is ready for the opening ceremony, which will mark the climax of Commodore R. L. Thorpe's work, ably assisted by Mr. Jas. Frankham, vice, and Mr. Colin Denneg rear commodore, and a strong committee, of which Mr. R. L. Bowden is the honorary secretary. A feature of which the club can be justifiably proud, as it is the first of ite kind here, is a large, two-faced clock for use when starting race 9. The clock has very large hands and figures, similar to that on the Ferry Buildings. It can be readily seen right across the harbour and competitors can have no excuse for being too early on the starting line, and will be lacking in good seamanship if they are more than a few seconds late, as the clock will effectively give the time to all on the last_ five minutes. The clock's faces will be visible from the water and from the shore, thus allowing competitors and visitors to follow the passing of the final few minutes before a start. The whole of the cost of this useful and novel feature has been raised by an art union promoted and successfully carried out by Mr. Geo. M. Dennes and his notlier. Mr. Ivo Dennes, of the Heme ''.ay Junior Yacht Club. This club will Lso use the clubhouse and its facilities for !ieir racing in the Silver Fern class. The dimensions of the new building are i.3ft wide by 75ft deep. The whole of the m ouikl floor is occupied by dinghy lockers, if which there are 100. On the first floor the committee room is 30ft by 20ft, with a sizeable gallery leading off it.