YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 5, Issue 13, 23 December 1911, Page 16

YACHTING.

(By "Boat' Arbour Bill,") Christmas-Cruising. - This is n season when tho spirit of good cheer is-in tho air. Christmas : carols uuil'Christmas faro aro appropriate, and will. no doubt bo honoured hud enjoyed by nono so heartily as the jovial'yachtsman. Therefore to one and all; whether ashoto or afloat, the writer tends his best wishes for a Merry Christmas and a llnppy New Tear. It is a source of gratification to learn that a respcctablo number of boats -are' leaving to-day for a cruiso in company to tho Sounds. Such enterprises cannot fail to bring pleasure to all concerned. Thero is nothing so conducive to efficiency . in seamanship as competition, and doubtless many records will bo niado at anchoring and "snugging down." Especially will this be (he caso if any such workis to bo performed on Monday next—from my experience of yachtsmen they nre not the slowest to respond when tho cry' of "Kai up" is raised,'and-the odours front those half-dozen cabins'at mid-dav should bi/ something to' make the heart rejoice. Cooking-on the "Primus." Of course, most of the culinary operations on the averago yacht aro performed on a Primus stove, and for the benefit of those "fortunate" individuals to whose lot it may fill 1 to operate, and who aro not verv well versed in the mysteries of such things. I can recommend "Comfort in Small Craft: A Practical Handbook of Sailing-and Cookery," published this year by John Murray, London. It is a publication that is' written especially for small yachtsmen, who have to contend 1 with difficulties unknown to those using a proper range. The Sounds, Thore was a suggestion • of holding-a raco on tho way across, but this is not now to take. place. Doubtless if , the Pieton ltogatta Committee were approached they would be willing to put on a race for va'chts on New Year's Day. It will bo an eye-opener for most of the Sounds people to find that nearly evdrv Wellington vacht this year has an engine installed. They'will probably remark that' soon thero will only be launches coming over. ( ■ I am going for a trip to that Mecca of all yachtsmen—Auckland—this Christmas, and will have something to tell on my return about that place.