YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1860, 20 September 1913, Page 16

YACHTING.

[Bl HilNfißßET.]

SUMMER & WHITE SAILB,

Oil, who can toll, save ho whose heart hath tried, And danced in triumph o'er tho waters Th' ex/rolling sense, the pulse's maddening play, . That thrills the wanderer of tho traok- . loss way.

The yaohtsmen knows no other sjjort like his. "To my mind," says an English writer, "there is no panacea for worry, no rost for body and mind, equal to a homely little yacht. Thore js no oure for a broken heart so certain as tho effort to keep the head above water; no balm for a wounded spirit like the sobbing of tho sad sea_ wave; no remedy for insomnia so offectivo as the lullaby of a gentle gale played upon a harp of hemp." Quite true. And so we again enter into another 6oason. Floot and Its Overhaul. From tho comenoement of the season in 1912, up to date, matters have peon tho roverso of stationary. The winter which was experienced here oould hardly bo termed winter proper, for tho continuous run of fine sunny week-ends has been responsible for a number of tho yachts being kept in tho water all the time. Tho usual practice of hauling the oraft on the slips at Martin's Bay at the beginning of tho winter was not adhered to, and it was not until tho season had . well advanced that tho larger yachts wero placed in their cradles for a spell! Last Sunday was a delightful day, and thoso who wore working on their craft in Martin's Bay regretted that they wore not enjoying tho breezo, the sunshine, and tho water. Yachtsmen report that in tho courso of a fortnight all yachts will be in tho water, and tho usual preparations for tho season' will bo in full swing. The Boat Harbour also presents a very busy scene, for all tho smaller yachts are up on tho "hard," and the owners and crews ajo energetically engaged in carrying out tho annual overhaul. The Crowing Launoh Flotilla. As regards launohes, tho Boat Harbour is full of-them, and it is safe to predict that it will not bo long beforo they are in the majority. The weather has been too good for them to be taken on the hard for a poriod, although most of them have been up for a day or so, and the necessary renovations have been carried out with enthusiasm. As launch men know, the usual week-end cruise is coupled with a fishing expedition which . is, more ofton than not, very successful. Cod are reported to be plentiful. It is just the matter of catching them, which is easy, so long aa you can keep the hooks to the line.

Te Ruru Yaoht Olub. The formation of Te.Ruru Yaoht Olub was practically the outcomo of the discontent which existed amongst members of. ; ther Port' Nioholson-. Yacht Olub. Since its inception tho club has made progress, and its annual moeting waß largely attended. Tho club' is fortunate in T>eing the possessor of such an enthusiasts official as Mr. W. BrookTaylor. JSoing an old hand at tho sport, Mr. Taylor understands the young enthusiast thoroughly, and this factor tells in club management. Accoidiug to a statement maao by one of "the officials, tho club does not in any direction desire to interfere with the arrangements of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club, but has ■ the keenest desire to co-operate with the senior club in any function. This statement is borne out by tho fact that tihe young olub, prior, to drawing up a programme*. mauo arrangements with the parent club, so tihat the racingprogramme of both would not olash.

Auxiliary Povwr. As tho seasons roll on, and the fleet of yadits continues to grow, one finds owners pondering taore. and more on tho question as to whether_ or not they should instal small engines in their craft. 1 More often than not the decision is in favour, and so we find that each season one yaoht or another has had an engine put in. The owners of tho yawl WEito Heather (Messrs. Hoggard, Barnard, and Donne) have definitely decided on an engine. With a view of oveiwoming tho tendenoy to throw the boat out of trim, by placing tho engine aft, they aro taking 4owt. of lead from the after end of tho keel, and moulding it on tho forward end: An engine is certainly^an assot when a Sounds cruise is contemplated.

Boat Harbolir Ripples. The iron keel for tho yaoht Siren has been successfully cast by Messrs. Luke and Co. The keel weighs 2 tons llcwt., and tho work of bolting it on to tho yacht is.being pushed ahoad. Mr. E. Bailey is at present constructing a small, launch at tho Boat Harbour to the order of Mr. Bert. Stirling, a well-known figuro in yachting circles in Wellington. . Several yacht owners have been gbmg in for now suits of sails, and it' appears that .makers aro likely to be busy for some time to oorno. As regards local yachts, Ailsa, Windward, and Ilatveno have beon supplied with new suits. Tho latest addition to the Wellington Cruising Yachts Club's fleet—the Nanette—wliioh arrived in Wellington at tho end of 1912, will be a keen competitor in that club's cs.cos during tho soason. She is owned by Mossrs. W. 11. Ev'att and A. Holmes, and was built by Messrs; Bailey and Lowo, of Auckland, to designs of Mr'. Guy Hoggard, . part owner of tho yawl White Heather. Tho little vessel iB yawl rigged, and her dimensions aro: Length, 80ft.; beam, 10ft.; and draught, sft. 6w. _ For tho purposo of overcoming difficulties met with when the wind .drops, sho has had a 6-horse-power ongino installed. Her racing capabilities are not yet known, but it is understood that dio is fast in a yawl Kotiri is at present having somo alterations effected to hor ruddor. Tho annual meeting of the Wellington Cruising Yacht Club is fixed for Soi>tombor 25. It is possiblo that beforo vory long a branch of tho ttoval Yadit Squadron will be formed in Wellington If this comes to pass a marked increase in tho sport horo is assured.