YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 152, 21 March 1908, Page 9

YACHTING.

IBy Mainsheet.) :

'The P.N.Y.C. has given .38 races, sincoNovember 16, including Anniversary Day, for all classes •of sailing craft, launches, etc., •and, although the wind has been somowhat erratic, the races have been in every instance a decided success. The amount of enthusiasm displayed by those participating in-the events only confirms the general opinion that yachting has regained its "sea legs," ]and libs come to stay. •..■ \ The Ist class racing was not the success it might- have been, as numerous things cropped up which hampered this class/hut still the two consistent'boats which competed are not to be blamed, as they put forward great efforts to make it a success. Tho second class racing has not beeij tho best of the bunch, and each race .has 'been, fought out to the finish. The Janet, Wairere, and Maliina were very evenly matched, and have had some great fights. The Nancy Stair, Petrel, Taipare, and. Muritai were in' tho line-almost every, time, and made in-, tef'esting. racing. ' In the, third class the Malua has had' all her own way,: but had it not been for tho mishap to Mr. Laing's Wariho.'this packet would have given them a . good fight." It is to be hoped that next season will see Mr: Laing again.afloat on the "briny."

One thing which is noticeable is the addition to the third class fleet, there being three, new boats which are'giving , good accounts of themselves, viz., Te Rhuna,- Tuna, and Nanoya. • ' ,

Whilst on this, subject it would not bo out 'of-place to' bring under the notice 'of the P.N.Y.C.' that the'third class- should be divided now that numbers permit of it, making, two classes,. viz.—(1)' Centre board boats say,under 25 feet over all; (2) Original third class composed of • lead keel boats. This is quite 1 justified, as the centre board boats would bo well represented; and the lead keel boats would comprise:—May, Mahaki, Karaka, Nanoya, Mr; Millnmn's boat in courso of' construction, and the Taiparo. This lat-" ter boat, although racing second class this season,, is. not a match' other boats, and it is only .a fair thing to put her in third class, sho will have a run for her trouble.

vi' Aubrey Smith's Tuna was'shipped per Wailiare' for . Napier ofrf'Moiiday night ■, at 9 o'clock. . .

There;; will, in .'all < probability~ bo- 15 gatikis in for. the Napier race. Some are rather large, boing .26ft'.'to 28ft. over all, anil in- the words'of one of tho Napier men,', ."they siniply get out of the water arid fly." Logan, and Bailey and Lowe, of Auckland, have, each a specially-built boat 'competing.-' If tho Tuna gets a win, Well she'll deserve overy inch.of it. . i

Tho course, I understand, has about two miles, of .windward work and 14 miles of runnhig and free sheet in the prevailing' nor'-east J wind. It is a pity they did not mention 1 this in : their programme, and 'some ono would .have -gone up with-a tub and stood a'good chance of winning; A • course, which ,wili test a boat should be 'triangular',' giving; a- beat ■ to: windward, a run,' and' a beam wind or free-sheet.- '• ; ■

■The Ibex came in for her share of notorioty least .one would imagine so from tho papers. 'An upset ;is in the Routine of yachting, and teaches ono to be moro careful next 'time, -but' beyond a wetting no harm rosults from these dips. The outcome of tin's episo'do was 'the (return of. tho . wandering Karaka, as she has been purchased by Mr. Fordham,i who,-was proceeding to Lowry Bay in tho Ibex to fetch his- boat to town when be_ h.ad tho misfortune to capsize. Better , luck, next tim*.. . ' '

Saturday' last- was a perfect day in tho morning, but 'there u _ ;is a' black- southerly squall in the afternoon. This did not, how'ever, deter yachtsmen from enjoying, their .outing, and .all left tho boat harbour with two or three reefs in, with tho exception of tho .Kotiri, which went full rig. Tl{ere' was a-considerable amount of bite in the squalls, but tho wind eased up considerablv towards ovening,. and most of tho boats, shook out their tucks on the run home. Sunday was a grand sailing day, as thero was a fresh southerly breeze blowing which kept things lively. Most'of the boats congregated at Seatoun where the motor-boators wore having an outing. These outings are nxcellent ideas and bring those in the sport closer together. . If those in authority who wore good onough to construct the boat harbour wero put at the tiller of a yacht in a three-reef breeze and asked to pick up their moorings thoy would then realise the urgent necessity of enlarging the boat harbour. At tho present momont' the: harbour is' taxed to its utmost capacity, and it is a marvel no serious accidents have occurred: The outer wall should be shifted out as. far again if that is practicable, and even then' thero would hardly be room for next year's . additions. Tho ideal place would bo Balena'Bay, with a protecting arm out from the 'north and south points.'. It is only right that yachting should bo'fostered, if only in tho interests of national dofonce. 'with our seabound coasts every man should be a sailor, and yet how many young fellows in Wellington caro to tako their trick at the holm or reef a mainsail?. The various forms of athletic sports, etc.; are all fostered and catered for, but yachting is left to struggle along With its few enthusiasts. Thero is not a moro manly sport than yachting, and with a good boat Under you there is untold pleasure in beating against a heavy, blow. '

The Mawlnti still on tho racing lists, and has somo big competitors to tussle with in Sydney. .

It is .rumoured that Charles M'Keegan may live in Sydney for good.

Latest reports - from America state that boats being built under tho new International Rule are proving seaworthy and excellent cruisers as welf as fast sailers.

There is a subject which should be brought under tho notico of tho City Council, and that is the lack of any conveniences in the boat harbour. . There is not even a fresh wator tap, and it is time something was dono to rectify matters.

•There are two or three boats in the harbour which are an eyesore as well as a danger to otlnjr boats. These are the ones that aro swamped at- their moorings, and have been so for months' past. When n boat has .been loft for -such a time she should be put lip on the hard out of tlio way of who take a pride in their boat's, as on a dark night 0110 can easily foul ono of these suhmorged craft. Owners kindly take tlio hint. If a clubhouse could be erected at some suitablo place, yachting would derivo a groat benefit therefrom. In fact those members who do not actually own boate get,no return for subscriptions whatever.