YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1085, 25 March 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Maiksueei.]

To-day—Postponed races for Ist, 2nd, and 3rd class yachts. Saturday, April I—Postponed race for. 2nd class yachts. . Easter-Monday—P.NrYiC/picrtic. Lord Islington's Viking. 'The Governor's chartered yacht Viking will remain, at Judge's Bay, Auckland, in- charge of a caretaker, until lord Islington arrives there. Somo doubt exists among yachtsmen as fo the size of tho Viking as compared witH the AVaitangi. Tho following are the principal dimensions of the two yachts:—Viking: Length, B.l', and W.L., 551 ft.; beam, 12ft.; depth, 7st. Bili. Waitangi: Length, B.P. and W.L., 49ft. Tin.; beam, 10ft. lin.; depth, Bft. (Jin. It can be seen from, these measurements that the Viking is tho larger boat. The Tangaroa. It did not take long for tho crow of tho new Wellington yacht Tangaroa to get her ready for action. Her crew worked exceedingly hard, and were consequently able to go for a spin last. Saturday afternoon. The Tangaroa is a boat which can stand a good deal of wind, though not too much, as-she has very little freeboard. Last Sunday the sea was a littlo rough, and those who made the trip in her state that she is a ratlu).'" "wet" craft. Tangaroa was built by K. Logan, senior, nt tho North Shoro many years ago for Mr. Tom Kilfoyle, as a 2J rater, and was raced with somo success for the first fmv' yenirs of her career, but the Tapid strides made in j'acht designing just after slio was buiic, and tho continued alteration of the rating rule caused her to bo outbuilt, and her owner was content with cruising, for which she was admirably suited. Mr. W. Kay was her next owner, and ho raced her occasionally, soon after selling her to Mr. ClifEe, who has consistontly raced her in the Nbrth Shore Club and all open events, with a fair amount of success, though hard breezes, which she revels in, have been conspicuous by their absence on race days for tho past few seasons, but .when she did get lief.' day, it was recognised that the 'l'anga' made no raco of it, so well did she sail in a hard breeze, beating boats by 15 minutes, which could do the same to her in light weather. Tangiiroa has always been well looked after.

A New Launch. Another addition was made to the local motor-boat fleet last week by tho arrival from Auckland of a smart little 25-foot cruiser, the Olive, which was built for Mr. Gaudin by Messrs. Callings and B-ell,

of tho northern city. Tho Olivo is fitted with a iivo horse-power, two-cylindcv Doman engine, which has all tho latest improvements, including an adjustable push-rod for working the valves and fores-feed lubricator; also a low tension magneto. Tho new boat Ims a Toomy cabin, her engine being placed right forward.

Somo General Notes. This afternoon tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club will got off races for first, second, and third-class yachts. Siren had her mizzen mast unstepped on Wednesday, to make room for her racing mailsail. Muritai came off the slip on Monday last, after being up for cleaning and painting. Mahina has also bten upon tho slip fbrfho same purpose. "ilainsheet" suggests that now yachting has obtained a fairly firm footing in "Wellington it would pay tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club to put a steamer on occasionally to follow the yacht races on .a. Saturday afternoon. , As a beginning the club might charter one of the small harbour tugs.

For the Tongan Government. 'l'lie Tongan Government's fine motor launch Kao jvas launched from Mr. C. Bailey, jun's, yard, Auckland, last week, and on an- extended trip round th 6 harbour she proved satisfactory in every respect. She has been fitted with two 14 li.p. Anderson engines, for which tho firm are agents. At tho invitation of her builder there were a largo number of visitors on board, and the smooth and silent working of her engines was greatly admired, a fair amount of speed being obtained. This craft has very fine lines, and should prove a very good boat in a heavy sea. She is intended for cruising among the Tongan Islands, and if required can accommodate quite a number of passengers. She has also hatchway forward, where a considerable quantity of cargo can be carried. _ She is fitted throughout with electric light.