YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 645, 23 October 1909, Page 12

YACHTING

[B? llAlNS'n'fiETj'

-Tho Opening,of the Thorndon Dinghy Club's season,'set down for Saturday'last, .had to be_ postponed' on" account of'the ■ heavy wind. Tho' club has only four dinghies ;left. in its racing feet now—Zot.'Blowlly, Vera, and Eona. ; The fet:'of the fleet, which .mustored 14 strong a couple of seasons 'back,,, has. been ' distributed about various parts 'of Neiv' Zealand. Some .two or ;'threo.boats- havo-.gorio :up to Napier, 'others to Seatoun and Karaka Bay, and 'some to thd West * Coast of • the South Island and to. various, lagoons for .use as boats.' Einanoially tho: club, is still in a' strorigposition,:.but thd fact that a.number of ,tho former 'arid .dnthusiaslic members have taken to whare life 'at Parcmota has to the declino of tho dinghy-racing, sport.'-, Another factor which helped- to damp the ardour of tho dinghy men was the great strides mado -in thd class, of'.boatsT-stridcs, w;hich raised the littstihie from: a comparatively ihoxpensivo sport to a fairly expensive,-one. v.' Although;tho number of racing- boats has decreased, tho membership of tho club'is still.strong, and the owners remaining retain all tho.' enthusiasm .of old. That being tho Case, it is not unreasonable to hopothat a revival will: be experienced after ;;the present Season, "liv'en how. ono of the oldest ■members of the .cldb. IS ; "only making up his; mind as to. Whether lid wilt remain in Welling-' ton in order to decide on giving an order for a new boat.? The first raco of tho club's season-i will bo held ,to-day, -whim Mr. 'M.-',Laing's trophy will be competed'for. v.. ••'.'*.'■■■-' - I The Syren was. brought qif the .slip last ; Saturday evening. Sho.is stiilpainted dark green, and her.owners have.put a good deal of work ■ into her during the winter. . : The Karaka was; out. for a'spin on Sunday aftornoon; and appears: to:. be an ■ improved; boat since .the pjeco was taken!'off. her keel, Tho May,. Jandt, and : Nancy,'Stair..wero also' out.'Thd May wentto Day'sßay, andtho other two. spent tho day, at Seatoun... :;r . ■-.-.< " Spoaking nt-tho anhual- mooting .'of the Port Nicholson' Yachting- Club; Mr.' A. Holmes suggested thatj'on' the opening of. the season .on' Novembor 9, a, big handicap' raco should bo hold in the morning. for. a £.6 .trophy, to bo presented by; the Port -Jficholson Motor Boat Ulub, and,-in the afternoon, a picnic 6hould bo held at' Somes. Island, or somo other place. The matter .was loft ,in tho hands or thocommittee. ':•.''. ■ ■'" -.

. H. liighefs now. Scow, the Redwing, was out for a trial run on Sunday, and gave every satisfaction.' She is a Hfiftt little',packet, and should furnish a good account of herself. '. C. M'Koewm. who faced'the Karaka and tho Petrel in WblliugtODi and who hold the; position Of secretary, of tho P.N.Y.C., has'been elected'secretory of,the'Otago Yacht Club for tho present 6eason. '-■•■.■'■.•.•...■:. '•.-...'. .The following is a short account of life, on tho Czar'S yacht Standard given by tho L6ndon "Standard's correspondent at Cowcs:— By the. favour of- the i'irst. Secretary of tho Russian Embassy I was pormittod to visit tho Imperial yacht ■? Standnrt during tho absence of the royal party. She lay in tho roads, a great, handsome, glistoning vessol, only to be distinguished; from , tho British Koyal yachts by the standard Using at her main, and the Kussianj ensign,: which .is. one of .the: largest Hagsi'.alloat,: Happing at her storn. One obtained instructive sidelights on the lifo of tho Kussian Court. For the most part it appeared easy, and luxurious; yot at unexpected moments there,were peremptory indications'of lines that couldnot be:passcrt. ji'fwp. small boys stood at the',bottom 'of; the Ship s-. stairs, . in*' correct Standart'uniform,: their hands rigidly at- the salilto, I ;:trying"valiantly to 'restrain, a temptation" to grirt.; 1 Throughout' the if wasiTemarkhble.how'many of thceo miniature KuSsi on. sailors.were to. bo .seen." The .explanation given .was: tb&t, they are the choirboys;"of;.:Ui6'lmperial yacht who sing the florid .Greet ritual,and the beautiful' Russian hymns in.the Chapel-of 'the.yacht below, the Imperial dining "'saloon.; •'■ That chapel •wo could • not, see. Itiwastbdiugiprepared for.a birthday service : in'Jion(*ar.iof.' : tiie.Dowager-Kmprcss, ' ;