YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 669, 20 November 1909, Page 12

YACHTING.

[By Mainsheet.]

; FIXTURES FOE THE SEASON. Saturday, November Races for second, third, and fourth-class Yaohts, and : Handicap Race for Launches. Saturday, December 11;— Handicap Races for second, third, and-fourth-class Yachts. . Saturday, January 15.—Handicap Races for second, third, and fourth-class Yachts. ■ January 22.—Anniversary Regßtta. Saturday, January 291—Mills's Memorial Trophy (Handicap); for first-class' Yachts only. . Saturday, February s.—Ocean Race, Handicap '.Bacei for all lead-keeltachts belonging to the Club. , : , > ■ ... : Saturday, February U.-Ladies , Ettce, General Handicap. Each Yacht to be sailed the . whole way by- a lady.■ ■ ',■ ■■

The first_ races of the season were held last in. a fairly strong northerly breeze, lho yachts were all on the. lino at the start W -if v 1 ? xc ?P tloll ° f the Patronus,which met with.bad luck bofore leaving her moorings, and was 31 minutes behind time. The Lizzie got well way, from the start, with the Janet «rl r ii! t* a short distance in the rear. When the Janet was in Oriental Bay: she hoisted a leading jib, and held it to - Point Halswell. Lizzie hoisted a spinnaker after rounding Halswell. The Janet was followed by the Nanqya, llahaki, and Patronus. As soon as• the Lizzie rounded Halswell buoy, she started off on the wind at a surprising pace, with the Janet close behind. After the latter boat had been on the. wmd for feome time, her bobstay ■carried away/ This accident gave the Lizzie a lead,; but after.the Janet had fixed up her bowsprit she soon , caught- the Lizzie, and passed her, reaching home' Bmin. ahead of her. The yachts-which started with reefs in shook them , out at Somes Island.' .■'■' ■••• ; . ■ White Heather.is looking exceptionally well under her now,rig and new set of sails. The Wairerci is. rigsed now,; and it is hoped that she will,soon be seen,in, the vracing ranks, Wavtangi ,is expected , to be off the slip some time next week. ; ■ ■ . • ' ■

Judging from the number: of new launches building or nearing completion (says the "N.Z. Yachtsman, , : • Auckland), there willbe-a big entry for the; ocean, race round Canoe Rock tor the, 60-pTiinca tea and coffee service, . presented by Mr..W. J. Proude,'of Sydney. This race is down for. the early, part of February. Amon ,S s . t , ,V hos< > who recently built and others now building to these cohdtions/ may be mentioned Messrs. "Hazard, P. Howden, W. ■' J. Jafrgs, J. Gillett, Sanderson,' A. Bart, J. Reid, and J/ C.. Spedding. : These fine boats, in addition; to _those now in commission, such na Alleyne, Seabird; .Eliza," Maroro; Materiki, etc.,; should make "a very finci raco of it. From all indications the coming season should be,a very successful one; for power, craft in Aueklandi and as plenty of trophies' aTe forthcoming some exciting racing should: ensue: •■ ••'■ ■:■■ ~ The IsTew/ Zealand-built yacht: Meteor, the pioneer, of,,the local 30£t: class, , .has (says th'o Sydney.Arrow"): again-.phanjjed hands, Mr. W. C. jßivott having disposed of ,• her', to Mr. H. Tarraat; : Meteor, it will be remembered, \vas brought .over' from New Z&llnnd eight years ago;by i )Mr,"-:A.,O!;.KUar to race,Mr.. H. M. CockshottV Brorizcwing,.'and at. , the':.time, caused no small amount of.'surprise by the easy mariner in whioh.isho defeated Bronzewing. ' .The.New South;' Wales oballenger for ■■ the' Northcoto. Cup, built for Ut. Walter. Marks, ofthe Royal-Sydney.Yacht Squadron, from designs by Mjlne, the celebrated English-yaoht designers was successfully launched on Thuraday, October 28' (saye '.the "Australasian"). 1 The christening ceremony, was ■ performed by, ViceAdmiral Sir, Richard Pobre,.in;tlie presence of a "large-, number- of: yachting enthusiasts, In replying,to,the-toast of his.lieal.tli,:Mr..Marks eaid he .would in the, near future build a , . 12meter: boat to. compete -for"!, the' Sayqnara Cup.' This'.woiiloV appear, as if thei Sydney, yachtsmen were not too liopeful; of Awfenui's ■ Biiccess in the coming r contost. l /v •-': •:>'■.,. >. ::,<'■:-■:* ■ By ft rwemtniiair (says tKo Auckland "Star"; a ■"letter■': Vas re'eeived .by ; a '.well-known local soipbroker, '.askift" hini : 'if he- could-find.; a buyer:for the steel eteam yacht Valiant, which was'.-ttien at'.Mav'seilles; the. price being i"only!' ■£35,000. TheVyaliantwas biiilt at >Birkenhead in-1895 for.Mr; AV.-H. Vandcrbilt, one of Nen .York's..millionaires,, and probably cost X 150.000.; Her length, is 312fr'., breadth 29ft., net tonnage. 877, ■;. yacht /measurement: tonnage 2200.'The'yaoht.steams 17: knots per.hour,.' and has been: equipped regordless ? of- expense. - ■■■' ■ .The Royal .Sydney, ; Yaoht ; Squadrons annual contest fpr',,the..Beauqhamp':'Cup..last .Saturdaj'.' (says the ''Referee"): attracted".an entry" iff■'• six yachts,' including 'the ilqw. G : 'itictre . yaoht' Ciil.wulla 11. -.The .weather '.was • perfect, for 'an. oopan race, , iho rlight ebu'th'ieast. prevailed'giving'the competitorsian easy thrash to "the. tea mark, ._and' : av nice 'fun' home. " Unfortunately, Eawhiti;'through ii. inishttp' to her throat, halyards .just■'•after the start, .was obliged; to-retire 'from, the race." Althoush Petrel:: was: -\Vell within ■■ her . time "allowance from'the scratch yacht. at the: sea-niark,'.Awa-nui !wae : not.to:be:denied',.and ehe-eventnally won handsonvely. from- Mr;' Trebeck's yacht. by over 23 ■ nunutes, after ■ conceding ■ the -.latter' an allowance This lias; Mr.. Ai C. Saxtori's third successive win. with tlie' ! trc-phyi' : whioh,, under': the deed of gift,-had to'v.be • won 1 three < .times,' by,'; the game- owner,-: do'w'.-becomee ■Mx.Saiton's.rabsolute, property,Pctrel'B/.'flhb; wcatherly 'qualities .stood '■ her'in 'pod - st«ad:"on"" the'.thrash. to'.-'Cqogcei and ehe' rounded the weather mark: less'.than' seyeii minutesKbehind''Awanui, '.aiid ''close on, four minutes'in; advance. of White ..Wings, .with her fellow-clase boat ■Yenlba'4inin.'sisec. behind ler.V,She secured.second prize from the latter. iyVlliiiiri.-lSseo.—u-distinctly-.-good perform-mce,i-:'..:';,,-.:.-'i : ii'-.'_■■•. ■';■ .:..',-■■■., -;;: : :■ . vMr. K..Cole, of the yacht-Siren; has purhased an Auckland•;'second-class?.yacht. ': The ioatie-28ft. in length,: with 7ft; beaini-and.la xpeoted to -'arrive in. Wellington; some time ieit'■ week.''-. 'This is: the- second:.Auckland acht which has , been purchased by Wellingon. yachtsmen this, season.-;- ~';'; : : :'-... .-■■->■■

It is; stated .that it: will be right i'ori Christy mis before'the. White Wings seis water. The extra.-lead .will be'cast on her to-day..';;,.;' ;:. The.-Viking was successfully iaunphcd. last iSuhday : afternoon. ...She is: r looking spick and. span,land is.'how , painted a:bronze green.v.and ■■wilt. show, a .full range: of."kites.":■■".' ■ ■ 7 % y. ', ■ Owing: to riot. being quite'; ready; last Satur-. ; day,--.-the -Patronus: ivas -half : an.hour* latb 'in' getting .down , -;to.'-.the ;starting-ppst; and 'this ibeing. ..the first;,time ■ the sails': have . beta" ' hoisted' , this; season,.; things.: did t not work , .too ismoothly, but. matters wero rectified-on Sni:day t and: the patronus is' now ; ready, for :the racing season'. ';>/"':' v ..■!■■.■,■■:■''■':■;''■■;' : l ';' :/ 'f ; . '■' Evans Bay; is looking- quite- another boat harbour now.-Anchored there arothe Ngaira,. Patronus,. Viking,. Vida, Powell's ,n«w launoh, Queenie, and 'several smaller craft, the flotilla imaking': quite 'an.' imposing i appearance .when .they are going out together. White Wings will swell , the .list-at an early,' date. ; ■'