YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1563, 5 October 1912, Page 12

YACHTING.

[Br Main-sheet.]

AND WHITE WINGS.

The Coming Season,

r o coming yachting season, and what of-,!? p e , - ccks fl ßo one was not afrud of expressing the opinion that Welh,"™ ».> was !T f°^, a Bood sumnier . but those who made bold on such a statement Sr ™F, ° "*£"* kwte «» the .bam. meter, withdrawn" like a clamant Ml' who,, rebuked by Mr. Speakein the" House. Some oven think that wo are not going to get any summer at all. J,l-rrf olo n montl , 1 "J September lias gone, vinV (ll l ore has bwn little or no s hf ht 's' 2 ml .y, ow ; t,lc mon th of October has opened with bad weather. But (ho fact remains that there is still left a fair sprinkling of those who do not mind going out in any weather. Faces pissing: Why? A number of familiar faces are missing from the waterfront. Why? It is hard During las.t season there were very few fine days on which yachtsmen could enjoy their overnight anticipations of a good day s cruising at all. Also, there wero very, very few days on which these anticipations wero realised to the full. Et sequitur, ono fears that some of the once enthusiastic yachtsmen have grown ncrmanently tired of the weather. If so, it is to bo sincerely hoped that' tho coming summer will be one in which yachtsmen s anticipations wfli be fully realised, There are now plenty of vachts and there is no reason why a most successful season should not be recorded. No Yachting, Indeed! Some time back, when the New South Wales League Football men were visiting Wellington, they received information trom some Wcllingtonians whicE would astound Wellington yachtsmon. It will bo remembered that during the team's visit here they were favoured with exceptional y, fine weather, and naturally enough, Wellington's Harbour during those fine days was as smooth as a lake. Uno of tho visitors asked a Wellingtonian it there was "any yachting done, and lie promptly replied "No!" Ifa also added that Wellington Harbour was rather dangerous for yachting.- A know-' ledgeable informant, surely! Tho visitor, naturally, was somewhat surprised, and remarked—conventionally, perhaps—"What a beautiful harbour Wellington possessed." But the nonchalant and mendacious Wellingtonian still maintained that no yachting was done. Later the writer happened to be talking with the football visitor in question, and when he of the League repeated the abovo statement, well—what do you think P "Mainshect" certainly claims credit for having done his best (o disabuse the Svdncy man of nil incorrect ideas regarding our fine sheet of blue water and our yachting in general. Ho smote tho narrative of tho careless Wellingtonian (aforementioned) hip and thigh. Careless Manoeuvring in Boat Harbour. At the annual meeting of the Port Nicholson Club a letler was received from Dr. Chesson regarding cases of careless manoeuvring of yachts in the Boat Harbour. The matter was discussed, and it was eventually decided to leave further action in the hands of the committee. ,Now, the following question arises: Has the committee power to deal with the careless manoeuvring of yachts in the Boat Harbour? It is admitted that there have been cases where yachts have been considerably damaged, and most of these cases have been "purely accidents," but the situation,, nevertheless, is a somewhat, tangled: one. In tho first place the Boat Harbour Is owned by tho Wellington Harbour Board j secondly, yachtsmen pay an annual rent to the board for the uso of tho Boat Harbour; and, thirdly, in these cases, which Dr. Chesson describes a* "careless manoeuvring," tho club is,' ordinarily, in the position of not having anything to do in the matter, if the offender/ is not a member. There arc ' four b'oating clubs which have tlieir "properties" moored in tho Boat Harbour, and if tho P.N.Y.C. Committee desiro to take any action in tho matter they should, in the'writer's opinion, first get the co-operation of tho threo other clubs. They would then bo able to appoint a special committee, which, having the support of all tho clubs at tho Boat Harbour, could Tcport an offender to the right quarter. As to broad causes of mishaps, ono can only say that it is the incompetence of some of tlie yachtsmen in taking a yacht In and out of the Boat Harbour which causes the trouble. P.N.Y.C.—OId Faces and New Ones. Tho election of officers at tho last annual meeting of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club resulted in a number of enthusiastic yachtsmen being returned. In Mr. "Bill" Moore, the Port Nicholson Yacht Club has secured a really energetic rear commodore. Mr. Moore, owner of Mahina, has always been a constant competitor In tho club events, and, bcin» an old hand at the game, should in his official capacity as rear commodore do a great deal in assisting the affairs of tho P.N.Y.C. The club has suffered a loss in Mr. C. J: Ward, who did a good deal for the club as commodore during the past season. Ho was a keen yachtsman, and his untiring efforts deservo tho thanks of members of tho club. However, Mr. Ward has not left tho management ranks of tho club, but still holds a prominent-position—tho secretaryship. Tho position of secretary should be in the hands of an energetic man, and Mr. Wnrd is the right man in the right place. The position of commodore has been filled by Mr. H, Chisholm, owner of Siren. Mr. Chisholm is a keen sport, and as he is the owner of a yacht, ho will bo able, no doubt, to increase tho In. tercst in „tho club. Mr. Fred Cooke, who is a very familiar figure amongst ynchtmen, and energetic, should fill the position of treasurer with proficiency. Hunting up the careless for "subs" is a position which demands no little amount of strategy. Recent Additions to. the Flotilla. Since the yawl Matangi arrived from Auckland, she has bcon out frequently, - and evidently her new owner (Mr. IT. K. White) is satisfied with her sailing qualities. She is a largo roomy boat, and no doubt, with a good breer/e, she will bo able to do herself credit. Her owner, who is an old yachting enthusiast, will probably bo seen sailing his vessel in somo of tho P.N.Y.C. events this season. If Mr. White has anything to do with the P.N.Y.C, there is a possibility of things livening up somewhat. It is his intention to instal a small ongino in his craft. Following tho arrival of the Matangi from Auckland, the auxiliary craft. Dorothy, also an "Aucklander, arrived per rail. Sho is a fairly big boat, and in a "blow" should give a good account of herself. Uufortunntoly it is understood that sho will !» used for fishing purposes, and not as a pleasure yacht. Still another launch is expected in Wellington within a few weeks. The Auckland builders, Collihgs and Bell, have received an order from Mr. Thomas Itonaync, of Wellington, for a 30ft. cruising launch. Tho little vessel is to have a 12 h.p. 1-cylinder Doman ongino installed in hor.

The ex-Anckland yacht Tnngarnn. is to bo converted into a. launch. When she first arrived from tho northern pert she gave ono the opinion that she was a launch converted into a yacht. Sbo has been out n good deal since she has been in Wellington, and in n. "blow" she suffered considerably from tho heavy seas. However, her conversion into a launch will ndd to Wellington's ever-increasing fleet of motor boats. •