BIG YACHTING. BUT VERY SMALL CROWDS

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 540, 18 December 1928, Page 14

BIG YACHTING. BUT VERY SMALL CROWDS

SOUTHERNER WONDERS WHY A former resident of the South Island, a keen yachting enthusiast, who has come to live in Auckland, is rather surprised to note how few of the general public seem to be interested in yacht racing. "Southerner” writes to The Sun as follows: "Yachting may no longer be a sport for the privileged few; designers of efficient, small craft have seen to that. Nevertheless, its attractions do not seem to have spread far beyond the circle of Auckland yachtsmen and their immediate friends. John Citizen ignores the Saturday bustle on the waterfront. If he sees the going and coming of white sails, he sees them from afar. "It was almost pathetic to witness the assembling of onlookers at the King’s Wharf on Saturday afternoon, when a three-race programme, controlled by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, was held. Out of every 10,000 Aucklanders one had decided to watch the cream of the harbour’s keeler yachts being put through their paces. And about one in 40,000 thought it worth while to remain until after the conclusion of the first race. Of course, it would be hardly fair to blame the public. It is not much fun to see a race start, watch the white wings fade into the distance, and then wait a good hour for them to return. Even the most hardened yachting fan finds time hanging heavily. “On the other hand, Saturday’s programme on the Waitemata was an excellent one. A spanking northerly provided speed and a spice of excitement, yet allowed the display of every stitch when the occasion demanded. “But only 20 pairs of eyes watched the start of each race, and the owners of several pairs were yachting officials. There were probably a number of others on boats in the harbour, but King’s Wharf was the principal vantage point, and would seem to be a barometer of public interest. “Familiarity may breed contempt, but, to the gaze of a stranger, used only to the ducking and dancing of Jellicoe-class boats, the graceful rush of big keelers was worth the little journey and the -wait in the sunshine.”

The Yachtsmen’s Caletidar December 22.—Power-Boat Association. • December 27—Russell Regatta. 1929. January 12 —Power-Boat Association and Devonport Yacht Club. January 19.—Akarana Yacht Club and Point Chevalier Sailing- Club. January 26.—Royal New Zealand Club 1 * Squadron and Tamaki Yacht February 2.—Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Milford CruisClub ClUb and Takapuna Boating February 9.—Victoria • Cruising Club. February 16.—Power-Boat Association and Devonport Yacht Club. February 23.—Richmond Cruising Club Regatta and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. March 2.—Northcote and Birkenhead Regatta. March 9—Ponsonby Cruising Club and Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron: Power-Boat Association on the Whau. March 16.—Akarana Yacht Club and Tamaki Y”acht Club.