YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 1091, 1 April 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

' • U?V MiINSnEET.] To-day.-Poslponed rare, for second-da's yachts. Saturday, April 8.~-Poslponed races for nrst, second, and third-class yachts. Easter Monday.-P.N.Y.C. Picnic. ' Tangaroa: Tlio Soa God. Tangaroa, the namo of (he latest acquisition to the local fleet, bears a famous name. It is one of (ho most famous in Maori lore. Tangaroa, cue of tho great deities of Polynesia, the Lord ol Ocean, was the son of Rnngi (Heaven) and Papa (the earth). Anyone conversant with the Maori idea of the Creation will remember that, in the days when darkness rested on the earth, the children of heaven and earth debated amongst themselves as to how their parents might U> • thrust apart so that the light might get in between. There were many children, and each ungratefully attempted to part (heir loving parents. Eventually Tanoinalinta. tho Lord of Forests, accomnlisbcd the, object by standing on his head, and thrusting the heavens upwards with lis leer, and tho earth downwards with ais hands. Fivo of the brothers willingly consented to the separation of their parn ,' a , n 4„ on, 5' onc - 'J'awhiri-matea, tho tjotl of Tempests, violently opposed it Alter its performance he revenged himself ' :v pursuing all who had taken part in the deed. "Then (says the legend) waves steep as cliffs arise whoso summits aro so oHy that to look from them would mako the beholder giddy. These soon eddy in whirlpools, and Tangaroa, the God' of Ocean, and father of all that dwell therein, flies ail righted through his seas." It is related that, in the South Island. Tangaroa was little known, but he was .sometimes seen in the misty sprav of tho sea when tho sun shone on it. I rruly a poetic notion. To continuo tho story, however, for it is a good story and "it deserves to be finished. Although, up till this time, Heaven and earth aro still apart, their mutual love rennins. Thii soft warm sighs of Papa (the Earth) still ever rise up to liangi (Heaven) from the ' woody mountains and vallevs,' and ino u calk these mists; and the vast Heaven, as he mourns through the long nighf* his separation from'.his beloved, drops lrequcnt tears upon her bosom, and'men, seeing these, term them dewdrops. In Recognition of "Tows.' Some time ago it. was suggested, at n, meeting of members of the P.K.Y.C.,, that yachtsmen ought to do something in. the way of providing a trophy for motor libat races, as many yachtsmen, when out when he wind drops, have been glad, of a tow home by a passing launch. The-secretary of the lacht Club has now handed' over the sum of .£3 12s. 6d. to the Motor Boat Club, which is to be raced for by the launches. . 5 |, Club and Fleet Notes. v ! A .general meeting of tho Port Nicholson Yacht Club will bo held at the Boat Harbour, in shed 43, on Friday next, April 7. Tho meeting is called for tho purpose of discussing the auditors' report on last year's balance-sheet, and for electing some more committee men, and to consider the To Rhuna v. May protest. Tho Motor Boat Club have - donated a sum of ,€3 10s. to tho P.N.Y.C. for a race for all classes of yachts, this race to be held sometimo during this present month. The. same club has donated a sum of £2 to the To Aro Sailing Club, for a race between scows. This afternoon the To Aro Sailing Club will hold its ladies' race. Tho boats will use tho club's course. This afternoon tho P.N.Y.C. will hold a raco for second-class yachts. It ia being re-sailed from February 25. Mr. W. .T. Collings (of tho firm of Collings and Bell, boat builders, Auckland), who lias been on a short visit to 'Wellington, returned to tho northern city last Tuesday. Mr. Collings was greatly impressed with Wellington's Boat Harbour, and stated that tlio Auckland yachtslucn were ii'git;iting-T'or'idne."-' i « ■' \i Points allotted for the Winder Cup are' as follow :-Eedwing, 6ij Winifred, 58; Kaitaro, 51; Lotus, C 5; Valeta, 52; Nan, 50; Doreen, 23. The owners of the scow Winifred, Messrs. Beaumont Bros, and Mason, have recently purchased tho lato Mr. W. Crawford's yacht, Patronus. Although tho owners arc amateurs, they have gained enough experience in their small packet, to make them capable of manning the old "Pat." They were not long in getting her into sailing trim, and havo had a good many cruises in her already. : It is stated that tho Cruising Club intend holding a raco to Port Underwcod during tho Easter holidays. On Easter Monday tho P.N.Y.C. intend to hold a picnic at one of the bays. Tho club aro chartering a steamer for the occasion. The operator of the King's Theatro states that he thinks that the moving pictures of yachts taken last Sunday aro a success. Tho film was dispatched yesterday for Sydney, where it is to bo developed and fixed. > Lost in Port Phillip. It is feared that tho well-known Melbourno yacht Mavis has been wrecked. The yacht left Mornington in company with tho yacht Uira on Sunday (March 19) before the sudden hurricane which burst on the bay on that day made itseli felt. When last scon (soys tho Melbourne "Age") she was about four miles from Schnappcr Point, making headway • towards St. Kilda. Mr. G. H. Prout, a capable yachtsman, of great experience, was in charge, and ho had as his crew Messrs. A. Todd, W. H. Empson, and J. Fleet, all of whom knew how to handle the craft. Tho Mavis was a yacht of about six tons register, with a length on the water lino of 20 feet 6 inches ,aud a beam of jl feet. Her cockpit was very large, and it is thought it and her cabin were flooded. She was built by Barber, of Auckland, nineteen years ago, and brought to Melbourne by tho Port Phillip sea pilots for use in tho bay, but was sold when replaced by a motor boat. Ah old acquaintance of tho skipper of the Mavis states that he had an exciting experience with her in the Carrum bight some two years ago, when she was caught in a similar storm, and only with tho greatest difficulty was kept afloat. Tho reason for the trouble was that she had a cockpit 12 by 7 by 4 feet, quite open. Apart from tho open.cockpit the Mavis was a splendid sea boat, well found and particularly well rigged. Tho body of one of the crew'was found on Tuesday last.