YACHTSMAN AND ALL BLACK

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 320, 3 April 1928, Page 16

YACHTSMAN AND ALL BLACK

r. a. McWilliams, of ponsonby f j It is not generally known to yachtsj m en that among those hundreds who sail the Waitemata during the summer there is an All Black footballer. Numbered with the crew of the 26ft. mul-let-boat Spray is R. A. McWilliams, the well-known and popular forward, who has been selected to represent the Dominion in the All Black team which shortly will leave on its tour of South Africa. Mr. McWilliams, who is a keen member of the Ponsonby Cruising Club, was the guest of his club mates at a function held on Saturday evening at Islington Bay on the eve of his departure. The function was organised by Mr. “Gib” McKay, skipper of Spray. Several yachts and launches took part in the trip to the bay, among those in the fleet being Spray, Kokiri, Starlight, Mowai, Otira, Why Not, 'Wyoming, and the launches. Pal O’ Mine and Automatic. During the evening several toasts were honoured, the chief of which was “The Guest.” Mr. McWilliams was presented with a camera by his fellow i yachtsmen. A korero and sing-song was greatly enjoyed by the assembly. After the singing of “Auld Lang Syne” the various crews went aboard their craft for the night. PONSONBY'S CUP DAY April 14 will be known as the Ponsonby Cruising Club’s annual cup day. In addition to the Lipton Cup race class events will be decided as follows: C and E classes, Palmer Cup; M class, Fraser-Smith Cup; T and Y classes, Parr Cup; X class, Hewson Memorial Cup. Cups will probably be awarded for H and I and S classes. Entries for these events will be received up till Thursday, April 12 —a day later than was first arranged. The late Mr. Hewson was secretary of the club and it was really through his energies that the Lipton Cup came to the club. A number of friends of the late Mr. Hewson subscribed a sum of money and also gave the. cup. The money is invested. The interest pays for medals which are given to each of the four members of the crew of the winning boat. The race is for Jellicoe class X boats, sailed by boys under 21 years.