YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 1920, 1 December 1913, Page 3

YACHTING.

[By . lUissniiET.] THE PERENNIAL PASTIME, Your Wellington Enthusiast. All the Wellington yachts arc now in the water, and are naturally looking smart after the winter overhaul. I sometimes fancy that the yachting enthusiast is more enterprising than followers of kindred sports. .The yachtsman will not say "No" to this, but others may. Still, when 0110 comes seriously to think of the time, labour, and money which yatchsmen tkrow into their pastime, the transcendent enthusiasm stands cut boldly—no myth, but a reality. His is a perennial pastimesailing in summer and "ship doctoring" in winter. And winter is anything hut a few months of "pottering about" and mooning 011 the foreshore. The yachtsman has first to hoist his craft safely on its cradle on tho slip. Ho does'this, of course, with the full assistance of his crew. Then comes tliQ. preliminary consideration of tho actual overhaul," which consists of scraping spars, repairing running gear, and renovating both insido and out. A few Saturdays may elapse before tho real work is commenced, and then all hands turn to, and work as t hough their bread and butter depended on it. First comes tho scrubbing ol tho exterior, and sometimes tho burning off of paint. No expert painters' labour is engaged for tins tho enthusiast does it himself. Next comes the application of pumicestone. Again, all hands are wanted, and it is only after heavy work that the hull, both above and below tho water-line, is made to assume the smoothness of a sheet of glass. Eventually tho paint is applied, ond this is the all important paint. Yachtsmen soon pick up the knack, however, of laying on the paint in real professional style. There is, indeed, quite, an sweep of the hand, and a pretty Turn,of tho wrist with somo of them. And don't they pay for their paint! Cheap paint is in fact unpopular for, with the majority of those watersido decorators, it must be tho host procurable. That is why some of our local craft mako such a brave showing, both in the water and out of it. There are no uneven linos; all must bo perfect. After the painting, comes the varnishing of tho panels in tho cabins, and here again the yachtsman displays his wonted ability with the brush. Lastly they launch her in the spring—very often a pefeet picture of beauty.

The Siren and ths strike. Tho shipwrights' strike has had tho cfi'ect of postponing tho departure of thp Siren for lier cruiso ill tho Southern Sounds. The work of-cdrrying out certain alterations to the vessel's keel was being undertaken by a firm of shipwrights when tho strike occurred. Of course, work was immediately stopped, and when one of those directly concerned in the little vessel attempted to complete the work himself, he was told by pickets.to "let well alone."

V/hy Let It Lapse? A meeting, of the Port Nicholson Yacht Club Kegatta Committee was hold this week. It was proposed that, instead of holding a regatta, a big picnic .should be tho feature. This, no doubt, is a good idea, but, on the other hand, would it not bo regrettable if Wellington's annual yachting function should be allowed to lapsed One feels sure that many of the old yachting enthusiasts would bo intensely disappointed if the regatta should fade out into tho limbo of things that "have been." The organised, hearty manner in which tho Auckland regatta is conducted should be noted before it is definitely decided to let our regatta lapse. "Mainshcet" would suggest that a conference of representatives of all local yacht and motor boat clubs should bo held to discuss regatta matters. It is, of course, known that some feeling exists amongst the-clubs, but. that is no reason for discontinuing tho big annual; event.

Harbsur Flest Notes. Whilst endeavouring to weather tho Boat Harbour wall on Sunday morning last, the Atlanta ran into it j with tho result that the bowsprit suffered considerable damage. The yacht had just loft lier moorings, and her now owners were anticipating a good spin, when the vessel failed to answer her helm, and, unfortunately for her owners, tho Boat Harbour wall was unable to move out of tho way. The bowsprit smashed into three lengthy pieces, and the Atlanta had to return to her moorings. On Saturday last tile -Evans Baypacket Waitangi was seen cruising ardnud Port Nicholson under lier yawl rig. She would have looked much better jiad 'sno been competing in the l'.N.Y.C.'s first-elass race,. instead of idly cruising. However, there is a race to-day, and everyone would be pleased to see the old "Wai" doing the course once moro. The retired yachtsmen race takes place on December 6. The secretary of tho I'.N.Y.C. would welcome members ol the "old school" as -competitors in the event, and would like their names at the earliest opportunity, so that yachts can be arranged for them, the same evidence.