YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1002, 17 December 1910, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Mainsheet.] Saturday, December 17—Opening Port Nicholson Yacht Club. P.N.Y. Club. ~~~ Now that tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club lias coino to light with its annual korero, Wellington Harbour will no doubt once more represent • thai • busy sight which ono associates with Saturday afternoons. The annual meeting disclosed a certain amount of enthusiasm, and there was an excellent attendance. The club has decided to open its season to-day, when a picnic will be held at Scorching Bay, if a northerly happens to bo prevailing, or at ICau Bay if a southerly is . the dominant wind. A steamer is to be chartered to convey friends and others to the picnic, starting from the Boat Harbour. The commodore's yacht will lead tho yachts to tho bay. Tho club has been successful in securing the services of Mr. C. J. Ward as commodore. The commodore is a man of energy, and this happsn to be the very commodity which is needed on the water-front at present. The membership of the club ought to increase largely, since tho annual subscription has been reduced by half. The racing permits will also help to' increase the membership. Now that tho club has two secretaries, one naturally, looks for • increased club efficiency and general expedition of business. Lastly, Lord Islington has been asked to accept office as patron. Is it necessary to state that, if his Excellency undertakes that office, it means much to our sunny summer pastime?

Wellington Cruising Club. Last Saturday tho newly-formed Wellington Cruising Yacht Club held its first race of the season. The event brought out four starters, viz., Ngaira, Kotiri, Whito. Heather, and Rons. Tho course was to the Pinnacle, buoy and back. White.. Heather was the .Jjjtst. jbo»t to finish,' and- was .'followed "by^the,-.Ko-tiri, which finished 7min. later. For tho third place a great race developed between Ngaira and Bona; resulting in tho former being defeated by just half a minute. Tho race was for a trophy. In order to bo able to handicap the yachts in future races, all competitors started off scratch. The club will continue its racing season after Christmas.

One Small Growl. A correspondent writes complaining about the way in which the yachts, which were racing in. the Cruising Club's race on Saturday last, hovered round' the Te Aro Sailing Club's starting ■ line, blocking tho little boats from getting away, for the race. The . Cruising Club have their own starting line, and "Mainsheet" thinks that it is only a fair thing for the bigger craft to cruise behind, their starting line, instead of hampering the "little fellows" in their racing. Ta Aro Sailing Club. The Te Aro Sailing Club held its second race of the season last Saturday afternoon. The race was for a trophy presented by tho handicapper, and was won easily by Winifred. Winifred had a "fluko" breeze all tho way round, and was not troubled by any of the other boats. Valeta carried away her tiller, and was delayed some time. But for this sho would have finished somewhero near the first. Mr. Harry Higbett-found it necessary to reef his boat, Kaitare, and was also delayed some time. _,It is rumoured that Mr. Jack Barnard is going in for a aiew boat. . Tho. club will bold a race this afternoon, for Mr. C. J. Ward's trophy. Some Stray Notes. Mr. • Nelson's boat, Nikau, has had a lead keel put on, in place of the centreboard. Sho has also had a deck-house put on, and a cabin fitted up. Tho keel is 2ft. "deep, and has Gcwt. of lead on it. This season will seo Nikau racing amongst tho third-class yachts. Mr. H. Smith has ,the work of repairing his launch, which recently caught fire, well in hand, and will be ready for tho water shortly. The now yacht, Isca, was brought round to the Boat Harbour on Sunday last. She was built by her owner, Mr. J. Kelly, and is a credit to hiin.., Tho build of tho little vessel is somethingsimilar to that of lolanthe, and she is quite a staunch-looking craft. She will probably bo ready for a trial- spin to-day or to-morrow. The launching of tho l'sca at Martin's Bay on Sunday last drew hearty applause from the onlookers. Through a stay on the Ethel's mizzenrnast carrying away, the mizzen-mast in a recent cruise snapped. Mr. Buchoh's yacht, Wairero, was out for a spin recently, the first sinco her overhaul. Sho seemed to "get along" at a good rate. She has been newly rigged throughout.

Duncdin Doings. Reporting on a raco held at Duncdin the other week, an exchange says Janet, the winner on handicap, was not well sailed, and a spectator could easily seo old-timers standing first on ono Jeg then tho other, fidgeting at the manner in which sho was handled. No thanks is duo toliQr crew for .securing first place. Tho Janet proved by her sailing that she is' a flyer, and moro will bo heard of this fine boat during tho season; that is, if they lot her go. Petrel still keeps an her reputation in tho casualty list, 'luio other week sho carried away her bobstay, then her bowsprit, and had her creW_ not been so smart in getting the mainsail off her they would havo lost their mast. They turned and mado for tho Three Legs under bare poles, whero a handy motor took them in tow and brought them to their mooring. Echoes From Oversea. Last year Sir Thomas Lip(on,.that enthusiastic yachtsman, presented to tho Royal Sydney Yacht Squadron (says tho Sydney "Referee") a liandsomo and valuable- cup, to bo raced for by yachts of the 8-motro class aud under, handicapped. The terms of winning and becoming tho ■ possessor of it aro easy, for tho trophy is to be handed over to tho owner who is tho iirst to win two races for it. Tho raco was won this year by the 8-metro yacht Yeulba, last year's winner being the Sunbeam. Tho Yeulba had tho lead all round tho course, and won by 11 minutes 2 seconds. Tho Sunbeam was ono of the starters in this year's race.