YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 1277, 4 November 1911, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br MAiNenEET.]

SHAKING OUT THE REEFS. Opening of the Season. Tho opening of the Wellington season Inkcs place to-<lay. Although there nro not very many yachts in tho water, there is still a sufficient number to onablo tho opening to bo a successful one. Tho event is being held a lilllo earlier this year, and, on account of this, a number of (ho yachts hnvo been unablo to get off tho slip. Tho Government steamer, Tutanekai, has been placed at tho disposal of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club. It is rather regreltablo that tho vessel is out of commission, as she will not be able to cruise round and foljow the yacht*. SllO will remain at her berth, near the King's Wharf, and will display bunting. Members of tho club will bo provided' with' tickets, which they will distribute amongst their friends, who will bo ablo to lward tho steamer. Refreshments will be provided on board, and visitors will Ims able to sit on deck and watch tho yachts. This afternoon, providing that weather conditions are favourable, tho Port Nicholson Motor Boat Club will hold its opening. Tho launches will cruise to one of llio bays, where refreshments will bo partaken of.

General Topics. Tho recent disaster at Foxton should provo a warning to local boat-owners. The calm water iu the Boat Harbour is very apt to make thoso in chargo of dinghies careless iu the matter of loading, or rather overloading, thorn. It is i to be hoped that this sad occurrence will have its warning for local yachtsmen. Auckland yachtsmen have been, for some time past, crying out for polico protection of tho yachts and launches, and, at last, their appeals have been successful. The "Now Zealand Yachtsman" slates that the polico at Auckland havo been instructed to commission a launch for sefvico on tho harbour.

Mahina will probably be launched this afternoon. A 4 li.p. Wolselcy engine lias been installed, which will no doubt add to the pleasure of Sounds cruising. Messrs. Hamill Bros.' yacht Ailsa was (he first yacht to make a trip to Port Underwood this season, and, Although, the voyage across the Strait was not all that could bo desired, they had a very enjoyable time. The wind dropped when soma distanco oft the port, and left the yacht becalmed. Luckily, the launch Taniwha was also on her way to Port Underwood, so sho took the yacht in tow. Waitangi was launched at tho end of last week, and is looting spick and span after her annual overhaul. Dor new owner, Mr. Norman Gibbs, secretary of the P.N.Y.C., has cutler-rigged her, evidently intending to race her during tk» season. Four Men in a Boat, Tho four fishermen who wero so unceremoniously precipitated into tho harbour last Sunday morning aro to be sympathised with. Of course they should have known better than to bo anywhere where tho Taniwha was likely to be, but experience has always to bo bought. However, there is little good to bo done crying over spilt milk (in this case spilt fishermen), and moreover tho incident is not without a moral: "Fishermen! tho Taniwha may got you if you don't watch out."

THE NEW FOURTH ARM.

■ O —• "That Franco is ahead of all other countries in tho now art of flying is a commonplace, but of the . proctical-tuat is to say at least as yet-military value of aviation, as against its spectacular and sensational eide, no clear exposition has hitherto been attempted, lUceptional interest, therefore, attaches to a very infonnativo article in tho 'Temps on null, ■lary aeronautics from tho pen of M. Paul Rousseau," says tho "Daily Nwes. "The French air corps (tho fourth arm," as it is called), was definitely established last year under a special comniand. , ■■. . If a lino of 150 kilometres is drawn from tho French fortresses on tho Eastern frontier—Mezieres, Longwy, Nancy, Lunoviilo, St. Die, and Bclfortit will bo seen that at the outbreak ot war France could launch her first swarm of aeroplanes on a lour of discovery into German territory, which would have no uiliicultv in passing over Aix-la-Chapolle, Eusldrchen, Coblentr., Kreusnach, kaiscrslaulen, Germcrsheim, Pforzheim, Tultlingeu, and Schaffhauecn. It would take at least five days for troops to cover 150 kilometres in a direct line, even without obstructions. The valuo of this reconnaissance would bo incalculable."