YACHTING

New Zealand Times, Volume LIII, Issue 12609, 20 November 1926, Page 17

YACHTING

This is to be a big day at Evans Bay. The season will open this afternoon, and if the weather is fine the year’s programme will be given a good push along. Arrangements have been made for a programme of aquatic sports of a varied nature, and if tbe yachtsmen bring all their friends the turnout at the club house should be almost a record one. • . • *

In the Evans Bay Club, as in others in the Wellington district, the prospects are the brightest for years. A .mod working spirit is manifest among members, and a lot of new men have come into the game. One of the big moves which the committee has made is the alteration in the course for keel boats, providing for the races to te contested almost in full view of the public all the time. Point Jerningham buoy is the farthest spot from the boat harbour at which will tmich.

There is more in this decision than meets the eye. The committee has realised that it is the confidence of the public upon which the clubs rely for their support and very existence. The man on the shore wants to see all he possibly can of the race, and if the yachts are in his view all the time,

then he will stay. Otherwise he will go home as soon as the boats round the headland and pass from lus view.

Eor several weeks all hands have been busy preparing the boats at Evans Bay, and a big clearance was made of the slips last week-end, when lolanthe, Romp, Viking, Niome and Waititi were put in the water. Nancy Stair and Venus are expected to be ready for sailing to-day. The improvements to the club house jetty have been gone on with, and this will facilitate tiie operations of members there. # # • * •

Mr John Hutchinson’s new 33-foot launch, which he brought from Auckland a few weeks ago, is looking very well, and will be watched with interest this season. * • » *

On Saturdav next, November 27th, the Evans Bay Club will co-operate with the Caledonian Society, which is to hold a fete at Kilbirnie'Park. The club will hold the first race for centreboards and launches, and the course will be specially laid out, so that the boats will be in the full view of those at the park during whole of the race. * _ • • • •

This year the launches at Evans Bay have the American Cup to race for. Tlie boat which secures the greatest aggregate throughout the season will secure this desirable trophy.

Things are well with the Wellington Yacht and Motor-boat Association. Evans Bay, the only big club outside the circle, has now joined up, and the efforts of the initial season are expected to be quite successful. The Evans Bay should he a tower of strength to the association. • * • *

Now that the date of the first trial for the Wellington candidate for the Sanders Cup lias been fixed for November 22m1, vigorous preparations are being made by those in charge of the fourteen-footers. All Black and Wellesley were out for a spin on Sunday last, and although All Black had a bit of a lead, there might have been a “kid-stakes” among the crew of Wellesley.

All Black’s crew were out for spinnaker drill on the same morning, and if it eoes up as ouickly in the races as it did in the drill experiments there will be nothing to fear from the for’ard hands of the little craft. • • • *

There is some talk of getting a skipfor Pegey, and the possibility is that she will again take part in the trials here. This is intemolv gratifying. as she proved herself to he unnuestionablv the fastest fourteenfooter in the harbour last year. If thosn nt r»resont manage to get a. skipper, the crew will have to hustle along and get ready for the trials. • • • *

The Sanders Cun trials here will he held on Afnndav. Wednesday and Friday of each week after the- commencing date, and there will he at least six raeos. Tf the weather is not puffirinntlv m-nniHmis to allow tlmm being held on anv particular night, that rnco will ho dropped, and tho programme for the remainder of the week sfrinMv -dh«-/vI to. At Mw, ond of six vnres the sidootors shonM n fair idon of which bont. is the fastest. Meanwhile- at the R.P.N.V.C. boat harbour practirnllv all the boats are in th« water. Senbi-d. Ad"a. end Wnirevo having been Punched rigged during last week-end. Mr D. Tvirbeoidie’c Qnni,;...! with a powerful Ailsa-Craig engine.

Mr S. S'-hncidor. of Highland Park Club, who has elected to committee nf tlm VYMmgton L.T A. wiM take, his scat at the next meeting of the committee.

Not only Olliver, but one of Ollivdr’s strongest opponents, will be absent from tho New Zealand tournament. Len France, the first ranking player in Wellington, finds the demands of business too heavy to enable him to get away. With his brother, France has recently gone into business on his own account.

INTER-CLUB MATCHES

The arrangements for the inter-club matches are going ahead very well, and play will begin for the senior section next Saturday. Entries in the senior grade have been received from Newtown, Victoria College, Wellington, Lyall Bay, Brougham Hill, Miramar.

In the third grade the following clubs have entered: Hutt, Highland Park. Murrtai, Roeeneath, Salamanca, St. Peter’s, Lyall Bay, Rongotai, Brougham Hill, Hataitai, Khandallah, and Miramar. # # #

Thbrndon has not yet decided whether or not to enter a senior team, Mr O. L. Mayo, stated to the management committee, but a decision should be readied in a few days. Salamanca also is turning oyer the question in its collective mind, and is deliberating on the cost of halls for matches. • * * *

The question of whether or not mixed doubles ah all form portion of the matches is now agitating the members of the management committee. No mixed doubles will be played next week, but these may well be included later if it is found that time mil allow them to be played. # . . .

The grading of players is to be scrutinised by tlie powers, and at its meeting on Thursday the management committee appointed a sub-committee to look over the entries. Brougham Hill had entered W. Hay and Cudahy in tho third grade, and members were agreed that this made scrutiny neoossary, since Hay is known to bo a junior player at least, and cm tho fringe of senior standard. Also, an entry form from Hutt bore the names of Miss. D. Sheppard, who has played in higher grade contests for Victoria College; M. Power and J. Rogers. The sub-committee will deal with such mutter© as theso. , . Entry forms for the 1926 Christmas tournament will soon be availably. Besides the five championship events and five handicap events, championship single* for juniors under 16 on December 2oth will be played. It has been decided that the final* of the men’s singles and doubles snail be five-set contests. Good practice is assured for senior teams in the inter-club competition, since three teams of good strenp+h are assured. Thorndon will probably be headed by J. C. Peacock and Camille Malfroy, Brougham Hill by the France brothers, and for Miramar Club Noel Wilson and Edward Smyth will play. * • • * CHANGE IN TOURNAMENT DATES The Palmerston North Club, which was granted January 11th to 14th for their annual tournament, now wishes to alter these to January 17th to 20th, provided that it can be arranged for the Australian team to be present during those dates. Failing this the club iutends putting back its date® until January Bth to 12tli, so that the Mast day of the tournament will not clash with tho test matches in Wellington on January 1 ? th. The club has applied both to the New Zealand L.T.A. and the provincial executive. • # * •

Two prominent players hare written to the Wellington L.T.A. offering to gtvo a series of exhibition matche® at clubs. It has been suggested that clubs desiring these matches should pay a fee to the association, the players concerned being prepared to give their services without consideration. When the matter was before the management committee members expressed the view that since it was so near the holiday season and they had much organisation on hand they would not be wise to undertake any fresh responsibilities. • • * *

INTERPROVINCIAL The annual triangular tournament between Hawke’s Bay, Taranaki, and Wellington is in process of establishment. A letter has been receivsd by the Wellington L.T.A. from Hawke’s Bay, and Mr Foden, secretary of the Taranaki Association, has been visiting Wellington, and put his association’s views before the controllers of local tennis. It is suggested that two Wellington teams should leave for Hawke’s Bay and Wanganui on November 30th, and a sub-commit-tee has been set no to discover what players can make the trip, which will occupy three days. This year it is Taranaki’s turn to come to Wellington, and it. is possible that the team to .go to Wanganui should go on to Taranaki and play there if a strong side can be got together, wince Taranaki cannot always send away a side of full strength. • • « %

Attracted hy the idea of a North Tslnnd championship the Taranaki Lawn Tennis Association has applied to tho New Zealand L.T.A. for permission to hold the North Island championships at New Plymouth next season. Also the Taranaki Association desirea to he included in the itinerary of the New South Wales tennis team, which is to tour the Dominion, and has pointed out that when Frank .Peach’s team was round TV’-nn.-'ki provided n bigger c-\to f-ov tho matches played than Auckland.