YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 3, Issue 675, 27 November 1909, Page 12

YACHTING.

[By Mainbheet.]

FIXTURES FOR THE SEASON. .; Saturday, November '27.— Races for ■ second, third, and fourth-class TTachts, and Handicap Race for Launches. .' Saturday, Decomber 11.—Handicap Races for second, third, and fourth-class Yachts. - ; Saturday, January 15.—Handicap ■; Bates'', for : second, third, and fourth-class Yachts. January 22.—Anniversary Regatta. ■■ -, : Saturday, Jannary 29—Mills's Memorial Trophy (Handicap); for first-class Yachts-only. Saturday, February' 5. —Ocean. Race, Handicap ' Eace for all lead-keel Yachts belonging to the Chib. - .. ' -■■ Saturday, February 19. —Ladies' Eace, General Handicap. Each Yacht to -be' sailed tho whole way by a lady. ' Practically. every boat that could hoist a sail deserted the boat harbour, on-Saturday afternoon, and took advantage of the fresh southerly breeze. . ' The new arrival from Auckland, tho Wai.rori, was out for, her first cruise, but she' had hardly got outside the boat: harbour before tho Janet, which' had been waiting for her. breasted up. The ; breeze was a'fine one, and .the new arrival flew'through tho water in igreat stylo, showing tlio- way to the Janet across: Oriental Bay 1 . The Wairere is a stiff littlo packet, and should stand any" woather. The sails are in keeping with the rest, of the ex-Auckland flier, J- - :: White Heather is now ono of the' finest-look-ing craft; in the harbour, and her appearance should be a ,full reward for the. work which her owners put in during tho -winter months. She was out under her full'rig for the' first time on Saturday,'and moved in a-way which caused habitues of the boat harbour to pass 'some, nnusually complimentary, remarks. The Atalanta has been given a general overhaul sinco last season/ and is now looking, a perfect picturo.' Iler new, owners had the mast out of ;the Old boat during tho off' seas 11, overhauled the :centre casft and reri&*cd tho ship. , In Sunday' afternoon's gear-testing "southerly," Atalanta was seen-, to advantago under her-full mainsail. It is stated that she. .may be seen in : tho racing, arena in a "blow" this season. . •. . •; ,- .■ • ■ Eonoi; was also carrying a. full rig on the tnp home on.Sunday, and waa getting through the water at a ..great pace. ~ ~, •' *. ' Syren had a run out' on Saturday afternoon, and returned homo in good trim carrying a topsail.. Sho has apparently lost none of: her speed. ..('.'-I'v :

. The prospect of booming the isport this secBon ( by paying special attention to second-class racing, Mould not be overlooked ,by officers "of and every elfort should .be''made to induce owners to face the'starter; 1 ' White ■ ..Heather, 'Dona, Janet, WaiereJ; Siren; Mnritai, Nancy Stair;- .Atalanta, Patronus, Vising, and Mahina would riiake •0' race which shpuld be worth'seeing.', - ' s jTho ahnual contest for tho Marshall Plate, under ■ the flag of' the Prince Albert. Y. 0., - attracted, ;a fleet" of nine, yaohta.: 'eayi the "Referee,".: and with tho ' wind" blowing fresh ,at 'times , from the 1 nor'-nor'-east, the ;as. thoy tore along with topsdls aloft pro. 'tented-.a find and interesting, sight; - Petrel ;waa in her element with . plenty :of windIward work,: and after gradually overhauling all her. class rivals, to which , she conceded starts in'every instance, she managed to finish in the lead 21seo. ahead of tho scratch yacht Awanui; Tlius Mr. Trebeck, with Petrel, has secured a 'leg-in" for the Marshall P)ato, which, finder the, conditions governing ■ it, must be won fpur times by the :samo owner. Although Aivanui passed Kawhiti on the boat down to the-Pilo light, she failed to show any gain over; Mr, Bfockhoff's yactit on tho long thrash to Manly. But down the wind to Shark Islands the challenger for the Sayonara Cup gained 2}min.'on Rawhiti, and finished lßsec/ ahead of' her. D(y spito her start of ; 2min; Rawhiti sailed a great, boat,, and - at- times when the ; wind' was at, itsi;'best, proved.more than a match for. the Fifo'boat; Flcetwing did the best of the others,' which'included Sunbeam, Yeulba, Abmd,'Magic,l and Culwalla 11. . Aoma, which made her first appearance'after a long absence from the racing arena, met with some mishap at Fort Denison, and retired from the contest. The- now 6metre yacht Culwall 11, which had the limit start of 38min., 'maintained the lead until the thrash down to' the Pile Light, when she. was overhauled by Petrel and Fleetwing. 1 She ul-. .finished second last, 6min.: 45scc.. behind; the winner..; ■ - . ,A_ correspondent writes as underlt will be. a pity if , the Mills Memorial- Cup race .lapses this-season as it appears it will do because' .thorb are ns»first-class-'yachts i'acing this seasoh. vThe Syren, the holder of the cup at present, was entered'as first-class; the' 1 year she won the cup,: and I would. suggest that tho P.N.Y.C, should : rate all .. tho ; second-class yachts as first-class for-.this event only, and so give' the Syren a : chanco to defend her title. -'■■■; ,'

; Last Sunday morning did not: look as though it was going to bring forth' a 'fine .day, .-'There was a very light' sou'-westor,: blowing: in - the morning and all; the yachts left the boat bar-, bour;under full sail. .Whon' they -had got as far as Point. Halswell, a strong southerly sprang up, and it began to " pipe," down Evans Bay. A|l yachts that were near Point Halswell put about and ran down to'Kau Bay. Tlio Janet was right up the entrance, and >. some' heavy squalls struck her. The crew managed,to put in some reefs and run down to Seatoun, where they spent' the day.' Two small 14-footers, Rival , and Kitty, Tvero canght out, and they ala> had 'to run to' Kau Bay and . reef. The Kitty left. at about 2 o'clock and' managed to reach; the boat harbour after a very rough trip. Tho Rival was towed ./home by ;Mr. Cooper's launch. Patronus, Nanoya; Rona, and Mahina spent the day; at Kau Bay. Tho Nancy Stair-was at Day's' Bay.

c - 'llie; Thorndon Dinghy Club : . will hold their fifth race . this afternoon, if ' the weather proves favourable. The club intends- commencing its mid-week- races on tho first Wednesday in December. - - -;;

The Port ;Nicholson '.Yacht Club hold their second'day's-racing this aftorhoon. Handicap raccs for; second, third, and four-class yachts, and a handicap race for. launches, are- to bo held. - - - '

. Mr. C. MUeegan, ownor of the yacht Petrel, is setting an,, example to yachtsmen in" Dunedin m occan cruising. On Saturday last the Tetrel made a-fast trip to Oamaru. Leaving Broad Bay after 10 o'clock she arrived at Oamaru at 5.30 a.m., leaving.: again for Dunedin on' Monday. When off Hampdon, a squall struck her, andlcan'ied away her main-mast. As the wind was a southerly,, the crow rigged jury mast and ran back to Oamaru. . The l'e • Aro Sailing• Club' intends to open their season this afternoon. I'ho' boats will leave tho boat haTbour at 3 p.m. sharp. If the wind is a' northerly - the boats wiil be to, Shelly-Bay; if a southerly, they will make for Kau Bay. The first race of tho season comes off on December 3,. The Wairero beat the Janet by 4min. in a ;racß from the wharf to Point'Halswell last Saturday. Judging by Saturday's sailing she ought to show tho second-class yachts round the- course. ■

The Janet and Syren were out over night on Saturday, and were very late in getting, back tor the balance of their crows on Sunday morning,'as there was hardly anv windT -The White Heather, Syren, Atlanta, and J.anot, spont Sunday at Seatoun, Tho Atlanta had the misfortune to carry away hor bobstay when coming borne."- » K- Cole's yacht Ethel is, a; very smart looking packet. Her cabin' is very large and roomy and her cockpit is very large. She will carry, a. largo amuun t of'sail, .judging from the size of her. spars. She has. a; clipper;, how, and in all is something like a racing machine., Ralph Millman, the builder'of the Rawcne, is building: a now yacht for; himself, and hhs the work .well m hand; The new boat is to have, two skins and .is to bo 20ft. long with BJft. beam. : bho will draw about sft, 9in..:aml will. have ," tumble-homo " sides, and be yawl ringed. " "' ' The- Royal New Zealand Yacht Sauadrmi will open-.the season with sailing: and power .launch raccs to-doy at Auckland . ■