Boating Notes.

Southern Cross, Volume 1, Issue 30, 28 October 1893, Page 9

Boating Notes.

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The opening of Mm season of our local Sailing Club on Wednesday afternoon was attended with everything favourable—splendid weather, a line breeze from the S.S.W., and a tide to perfection. There were not so many boats on the fstuary as might have been expected, but that was no doubt owing to its being the commencement of the season. Before long we may expect to see the channel studded with craft of all sizes and kinds. five boats started for the opening race: Dove (Glennie), Scimitar (Jordan), Garibaldi (Pasco), Wanderer (Craig), and Minnehaha (Clare). The Dove had to retire after the first round on account of the “ th ro it halyard ” giving way. The race was practically between between the Garibaldi and the Minnehaha, the Wanderer and the Scimitar being far behind at the end of the second round. At the third round the Scimitar retired. The Minnehaha overhauled the Garibaldi (which sailed splendidly) at the fourth round, and steadily increased her lead to the end, winning a really good race by two mmutes. The Wanderer finished the race a good way behind the Garibaldi. Mr Patchett was the starter, Mr Rein timekeeper, and Messrs McLean and Hoops acted as judges. There have been a few alterations in some of the “ shifters ” since last season, the most important being the addition of a counter to Mr Clare’s yacht. This change makes a vast improvement in the look of the boat, and judging from the way in which she “skipped” on Wednesday she will amply make up in speed the additional handicap she will have to bear on account of her greater length of waterline. The race between the yacht and Mr Watson’s Isla will be watched with the greatest interest, especially if there is a good stiff breeze, as it is then the Isla has the advantage. The Scimitar is a new boat, the hull of which was designed and built by Mr W. Ashley, junr. I have no doubt that had she been properly rigge.l she would have given a much better account of herself than she did. As it was she stood up to the Wanderer very well, being only a length or two behind when she retired. The proceedings during the afternoon were enlivened by the appearance of a strange contrast to the litted-up boats in the shape of a pig-trough looking punt with a stick and ripped-up sack for sailing gear. It carried a crew of five or six barefooted youths, who looked as jolly as sandboys, and who evidently enjoyed themselves as well as their better got up compeers.