YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 1, Issue 158, 28 March 1908, Page 9

YACHTING.

. Mainsueei'.) ; Tho last week-end was not/ tho weather a yachtsman-could wish for, although jf you make that statement to any of those interested they will describe tho weather as Al. This is characteristic of local yachtsmen, and it is well for Wellington • weathor that she has such loyal backers, fdr jnst lately, tho. southerly that has been exporioncod' has' wrought havoc in other "coiitrcs amongst yachts. . ' ' Tho Wliitjß Wings hss -suffered: considerably. in Evans Bay, as she was driven .ashore just, under the 'i'oraugi, and had the full force of the waves breaking over her.. She is a', handsome little packet, and docs "credit to her owners; who have spent a great deal of time and work on her. It is wonderfultho amount of work that, must bo put into a yacht to mako things snug and the gear proof against a hard blow. Tho Tui,- which had a' rather prominent career for a number of years,, has at last been loft to a fato. which in no way should have been hers. A correspondent writes:—Captain.'Holii, iu The Dominion of Tuesday, touched a weak-spot. Every ship's officer should bo given practical instruction " in tho: actual handling of tho boats | before ho is granted .his;.certificate. This brings mo to.say that yachting, more.'than any cthor' sport, should be oncouragcd. There is not another sport which is so clean and manly, , as it gives a man power,to use his own judgment, and. .to use .it quickly. ' In everyday , occurrences in yachting there arise difficulties which dcvolop a man's capability of looking after himself in any weather. Tho Napier sailing race, from all accounts, was a-'drifting match,-and was a gift! to tho: racing machines wliioh wcro specially built for this sort of' racing. Some of tlie' boats wero ,2Gft. to 27ft. long and built of single skin (Jin.) batten carvel I Fancy: one of these racing iu .Port Nicholson in a full sail brooze. Their gear is so light. that in tho trial runs masts, spara and rigging gavo. way in a moderate breeze. They carry close on 400 sq. ft. i and have six men up to windward .as livo balhfst,- and in a light air thc.v fairly romp along: Tho sturdy little Tuna was an ocean-going cruiser in comparison to theso thin, shells, and in' the light air did not stand a chance. • Given a two-regf breeze a • different talo might have been told. ■ The course'. was the best that could , be 'had under tho circumstances, but half tho way it was.impossible to cary tho plate down. "WelliAKton' yacdrtsmon don't realise sEha± a.

boon plenty of water and wind means until tlioy try to sail in onei'of , the shallow: harbours. These patiki races "are; all' very-well in their place, but' if they'tend to develop freaks it is timo some restrictions- were laid down as to tho construction, of ,the boats which competo in these classes. " I should not think Napier patikis would be much use for everyday knocking about in Wellington, but they should suit .Napier |well enough..What is wanted here is a.wholesome,.type of boat that can stand a blow and revel in one.

It is rumoured that.tho Harbour Board intends, to dredge tho Boat Harbour out at' 110 distant date.. This is gcod nows indeed.; When this work "is. done tho launches should be station'ed at the. south-west -end [of the' Harbour—moored fore and aft,'and so Rive tho yachts the northern. end,.. wliero they , can move round without fear| of, being charged by a 30ft. or'4oft. launch,; or vico versa. - ;■ ■ '- ■ j; Tlio yachts havo a claim -on "the space !jf; they are to bo in tho Boat' Harbour, as-it takes room, to manoeuvre',.them,-.-whereas..a. launch has an engine and a lover which' always act according to the wishes of'their owners, without any regard for :", tho' weather—at least'so the launchers 'toll.one:';;-v '■ '....v. Last Sunday thero was a grand sailing breeze, and the yachts took' advantage of it. Th e Janot and * Petrel Tmado. Scatoun; tho Nancy Stair wont out, for;.a ,stunt across Rona Bay way in the morning, and ihe Kotiri- was seen out for a 'thrash up the eii--trance. Tho sea was short " and •cnoppy till up past tho Pinnac.les, • but after that the outsido' roll came and some of tho roll$:s had a peculiar look about them which made one think they had como up from the Bluff.the Bluff. . ' ' V L. Silver, who onco owned the Karalta, is contemplating building an, auxiliary boat of about 24ft.' over all. '. * : ■ D. Millman's packet is progressing very favourably ~ and., is shaping up - wull. She should be a\fine little packet when finished. ,