YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 2, 3 July 1939, Page 15

YACHTING

R.P.N.Y.C. PRIZES

PRESENTATION BY MAYOR

The annual prize-giving ceremony of the Royal Port Nichblson Yacht Club, which in the past has been held in conjunction with a smoke concert, took place on Saturday night at the first of what is hoped to become a series of annual dinners. The club commodore, Mr. K. Bennett presided over a large attendance, which included Mr. A. G. Harvey, chairman of the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor-boat Association executive.. After the loyal toast, the Mayor (Mr. T. C. A. Hislop) proposed that of the club, which, he said. »/as in years of operation the oldest yacht club in New Zealand. We referred to the club's splendid record and to its value in inculcating the principles ot seamanship. In times-such as the present it was a great thing to have such a body of men trained in sailing and fitted by competition for service for their country should the occasion arise. He extended every good wish to the club. . ... „ • The Minister of Marine (the Hon. P. Fraser), in replying to the toast, said that in spite of his office -he was npthing in yachting except by courtesy of the club a member of it. He was proud to be a member of the club, j and to represent in Parliament the; district in which, the club had had a, most creditable record for 54 . years, j The club was an inseparable part of the history of Wellington. The Mayor mentioned, and they all recognised, the value of yachting, in teaching selfreliance, and there was no better sport than yachting. Mr. Fraser paid a tribute to Mr, CD. A. Highet, rearcommodore of the club, for his great yachting experience. . Mr. Higher at-Mr. Fraser's request also replied'ibriefly to the toast, ing the importance of the Centennial regatta. Mr, Hislop. said he.. had recently received; the' club's proposals concerning the regatta and he saw; no reason why they-should not be. able to build up a citizens'committee to ensure:its success.- There would be no difficulty in linking the regatta with the national celebrations. „;■ , The toast'of "Veteran Members was proposed' by •■ Mr, Wi P.; BoUttteft whp pointed1 but that; the dive^ity^ol 'requirements in a' yacht's criw t aeft room for men of every age. Faf that? reason there were engaged actively in yachting today men who had been in the sport for more years than many others had lived. He mentioned as veteran members ot the club Messrs. G, Both-

amley, W. Duncan, A. Holmes, McLean, Bucholz, D. Blair, and Professor Cull. Messrs. B.othamley and Holmes replied to the toast, with, some .inter-' estizig reminiscences of 'early sailing days. HARBOUR BOARD PRAISED. "The' yachtsmen's best friend,"'" was' how Mr. J. A. Barker described the Wellington Harbour Board, to which he proposed a toast. He paid a tribute to the efficiency of the Harbourmaster, Captain Peterson, and other officers, of the board, and said it was comforting' to know that the club could always depend upon their assistance. In reply, Mr. W. Appleton said that the board was always anxious to cooperate with yachtsmen. He instanced the provision of the Boat Harbour, which was now too small, but he said that the board's success depended largely upon its executive officers, and they had prepared plans for the next ten or twenty y^ars which included provision for yachting. The board, of course, expected no monetary benefit from yachtsmen. What it did for them was part of its service to the community. Captain Peterson also spoke, thanking the yachtsmen for their co-opera-tion. He had appealed, he seid, at the beginning of the season, for yachtsmen to keep out of the way of shipping manoeuvring in the harbour, and he was pleased to say that throughout the season his .pilots had reported not one instance of interference by yachts or motor-boats,, and no Harbour Board launch had had to go to the aid of any yacht in trouble. The* toast of ""Kindred Clubs" was proposed by Mr. W. Duncan and responded to by Mr. S. Rough. LIST OF TROPHIES. There was a long prize-list, but the principal trophies, which were presented to the winners by the Mayor, were as follows: — Championship Pennants.—AtaUwta, first class; Maranui, second, class; Innocence, X, H, and N clpss; Manon, Idle Along class. Club Aggregates,—Atalanta (first class), Carina Cup; Ma'ranui (second class),. Harmon Cup;'; Innocence and Advance (X, H, and N class), Winder Cup; Manon (Idle Along class). Cup Races.—Mills Cup—'Atalanta, C. Cunningham; Turnbull Cup—Argo, B. Bennett and Bowater; Te J^uru ,Cup^Maranui, N. Coleman; Seabird Cup— Atalanta, C. Cunningham," Grey Cup— • Manon,D. Bird; president's;prize»-liv. nocenee, C. D. A. Highet; Mbffat CupJean, C.' Hollis; rose': bowl '■''■' (power yachts)— Dawn, L. Woods; Kirkcaldie Cup^-Innocence, C. d: A. Highet; Jessie Logan Ciy>—Ranui, L. Craig; Maxwell Cup (veterans' race)— Seabird, J. Lever-rfaylor; Crews Cup—Wylo, helmsman, W. Masqn; Barker -Trophy —Raukawa, C. Livingstone,'Mandalay, Dr. M. Spencer; Bothamley Cup— Leonpra, Drs. R. A., J.K., and Sir James Elliott; Kirkcaldie Cup (ladies' race)— Isca, A. Flynn.