YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1651, 18 January 1913, Page 13

YACHTING.

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THE PACKED BOAT HARBOUR. January 85.—Second Eaco of B«oond Scries, First, Second, and Third plasses. February B.—Tliird Race of Second Series, First and Second Classes. February 25.—Ocean Eace.' Open to any recognised yacht club. March B.—Ladies' Eace. March 24 (Enster Monday).—P.N.T.C. Picnic. .•.-'.■■ April I.—Consolation Eace General Handicap.- ■ • Sail in arid Sail Out? ' Yachtsmen are seriously exercised over the crowded state of the Boat Harbour* Tho harbour is certainly so crowded, and yachts cannot leave their' moorings under sail with Safety. The danger which fronta yachtsmen when manoeuvring'in the harbour is tho liability of colliding with a stationary yacht. Soino of the, prominent yaoht-owners are strongly of the opinion that manoeuvring under sail in the Boat Harbour ought to be strictly prohibited. The yacht; that is sailing in the Hoat Harbour is not tho ono which meets with' damage' if she collides j it is tho yacht or launch which sho strikos. A! damaged bowsprit is not nearly so expensive to repair as a hole in a boat's side. • '•,■'■" ' Those who are fond of sailing in and out of the Boat Harbour should consider these matters, and on the principle of the Golden Eule, abstain from leaving, or coming in under'sail. y This ia really a matter for the Harbour Committee to take up, and not for individual yachtsmen. The question of enlarging the Boat Harbour is a very big order, and, in tho ultimate, ono for tha Harbour Board. . ' At the same time, the writer is, in-, clinod to think that the Harbour Board 'ought to be approached by deputation. Suggestions, at least, might then be offered. ■'. ■> ' ..' The Anniversary Renatta. Nothing has come to hand as yet regarding tie Port Nicholson Yacht Club's Sroposals for a regatta on Anniversary 'ay, next week. -, It is. time that the clubs in Wellington i were up and doing. ..■_■ As a suggestion to the.Eegatla Com-' mittee—that is, if there is one—one is inclined, to say that they ought to communicate with the "Union Company, with the object of securing one of the company's steamers as a flagship of that date; The following little paragraph, taken from an Auckland paper, seems in order in this connection:— . ■■' '■■ ■'• -■'-•■'.'■'

" "At lit meeting of the Auckland Regatta: Committee, the secretary reported that in oil probability the s.s, Navua -would be placed at the disposal of the committee as flagship for the regatta."...- , ■ :;■'.''.'■ Notes on RacM. On Saturday afternoon' last the .Port Nicholson Yacht Club decided'its first races for the New, Year.' 'A hard nor'-, wester prevailed,- whiclKcompelled, some of the more tender craft to take, in reefs: With a;start,of eighteen' minutes, the Wairere I the' first-class'event pith two minute's to', spare'..' Windward,, with; fifteen':minutes,: finished.:next,;,.and',fivo; ' minutes: afterwards 'thediking. : -fl2min.-)-arrived. Strange that ;the Waitagi,;whiollt was scratch yacht,: did not' get a position. She ,gave Mahina twenty minutes,- and although that craft only finished fourth, Matangi finished, last. , One would jiaTe' thought tnat last Saturday was just the day tor Matangi, as it is olaimedftat she is a speedy.'craft in a. "breeze. , ; -.. vi .• . It is very pleasing .'to note,', m.connoo.tion with this.race, that there were seven ..competitors. Perhaps; boat-owners are be''ginniiig to stiri '.' s '''\-f' '-."'.v '.'; ii'-' ' t ■lln I ,:the second : 'c]l,MS, r e*enk'^ only three, treses, «■ note'this) as the ' 6 ecoiid-'clgsfi3 ,l the ,; class which needs ei.coiiragement. • . ■• , There is something remarkable about this race, when tho handicaps and : finishing times come to, bo compared. -Lizzie was the scratch':boat,.and gave Rawene lOmin., but,' strange to; say, she finished exactly ten minutes after the last named. This race would have been particularly interesting if the two yachts had started off the'scratch imark'. together.- ,It always, has been a toss up as to whiclr of the ■ two is the faster 1 .- ! If the two yachts had started together,xthere. might: have been a dead-heat.' The Taipare, with a han : didap of '■ Grain., •■'finished 12min. afterLizzie; . obtaining' third: place. The old "Tai" seems : to .have', gone off' considerably this year, 'as' her. ; performances, to date are not-very, brilliant. .;'■'• : " ,' .■ Iprangi Still; In Wellington;:; > :;;v. Mr.'Alexander, ;l owner of the, lorimgi; which arrived in Wellington recently dl* ma9ted, has been'unable to seoure a new mast for his boat, 'flo left Wellington last night for. Auckland, and has placed an order with-.Mr.. A.'.'Logan, .of Auckland, for: a new "stick/.' ■ The work of making the new mast is well. advanced, and as soon as it is completed it will be shipped to Wellington. The lorangi will then resumo her voyage to Auckland, and is expedted'to.arrive at that port in time to take part in the Auckland Aniversary ,Regatta. .-" .-'.•:.. .'■ , , The lorangi has been stripped of, all her gear, and the Port Nicholson Yacht Club has provided accommodation for. eame.

Obituary! John Highat. The sad drowning fatality which ow currod on Now Brighton' beach on Tuesday afternoon last,, i;ook away one of Wellington's 'most popular yachtsmen in Mr. John Highet. Mr, Highet was moro popularly known in' Wellington as "Hoppy, and was a keen swimmer and yachtsman:, The tribute paid by Mr. T. M. Collins in Thursday's issue, to the lata Mr. Highet could, not be -enlarged upon. • i <■.'•' Mr. D. Brewer, of this oity,' who was a personal friend of Mr. Hlghetfs, said on Thursday-last that deceased'hod been connected with yaohting right' from his childhood. Mr. Brewer could recall many instances in which Mr. Highet has rescued people from drowning. ■. Deceased was considered a very fast swimmer, and also a good long-distance man; "He often swam to the Queen's Wharf and back," said • Mr. Brewer. Ho sailed in many races under the' auspices of, the Port Nicholson Tact Club, and ho was claimed to be the best helmsman in Wellington. "Mr. Highet," continued; Mr. Brewer, "was also a prominent member of the old Arawa Sailing Clnb, and was one of the keenest of sports. He used to be continually building, scows, and won numerous races." Mr. Highet went to Christchurch about four years ago to take up business there. Mr. Brewer concluded by saying that Mr. Highet was affectionately called "Hoppy," as his left leg was shorter than his right. In fact, tjie limb was' practically powerless. , •Mr.;,-Hlghetfs death was a" shook' to Wellington yachtsmen.