OUT OF THE LOCKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 788, 8 October 1929, Page 16

OUT OF THE LOCKER

There was great activity at Bevon- i port last week-end. Norana, launch, j was lowered into the water to make . room for some others. Mr. A. Fos- j ter’s big launch is well advanced and | Messrs. Seagars’ Rahuti is being varnished up and is expected to be ready very early. The same applies to Mr. Quelch’s fine launch. ilex is still under her winter overcoat and lorangi is awaiting attention. Nga Toa is in the water off Stanley but minus her stick; the other keelers at the Bevonport site are more or less ready. The smaller craft were fairly j alive with workers and it was noticed j that the Star boat, June, was airing ; the mainsail. Air. Tamlin. the owner, j is reported to be constructing another j Star. , The Bevonport Club housed a num- j ber of city-owned boats this winter without any inconvenience. The club > is busy completing the reclamation in ‘ front of its pavilion and members are expecting to see a start made with the I erection of dinghy skids and lockers. About £250 is to be spent on this j work. The outboards and speed men were lured out by the calm water and mild j weather last week-end. The sound j of bustling exhausts drifted over the water from all points of the compass and a number of crews made the circuit of the harbour. A dog off the chain was not in. it with the wild glee with which some of the boats ran about the Waitemata. Several launch parties were noticed passing North Head, too, making the best of the weather. * * * Mr. G. Humby’s yacht Phyllis was the first of the Richmond fleet to take the water and was out* for a sail on Sunday. Marere was the next to make a splash, going down on Sunday morning. The following yachts will be launched next week-end: Sun, Scud, Wild wave. Leveret, Cyclone. The old-time champion, Mowai. j having been burnt off, the owner, Mr. \ G. Smith, has decided to paint her the j same green again. The Takapuna Boating Club has a ! bright dance in its boathouse, Bayswater, on Saturday evening. Preparations are in hand for the annual Guy Fawkes carnival dance on November 5. The Akarana Yacht Club’s weekly dances continue to be very popular. On Saturday a large number of dancers were present. The functions will be continued week by week. * * * The Richmond Cruising Club lias its first general meeting on October 15, when a Sailing Committee, handicappers, etc., will be elected. Provisional fixtures for the season will be prepared. The Ponsonby Cruising Club will hold a committee meeting tomorrow evening. * de * Outboard men are reminded of the meeting to be held in the Chamber of Commerce at 8 o’clock this evening to consider the formation of an outboard racing association. The first yacht race of the season will be held, as in former years, by the Richmond Cruising Club, which is again organising a prize race for the Labour Bay week-end. As there have been several fine week-ends, boats .are ready much earlier than usual, and it is expected that about 20, from 16-footers to the big mulleties, will line up at Ponsonby Wharf on Saturday, October 26. The destination will be Brown’s Bay if the wind is “out.” If “in” the boats will be sent to Motuihi. On the following Saturday a race for all classes, from the 14ft. to 26ft., will start from Ponsonby Wharf for Beachhaven. Last year this trip was one of the most popular outings arranged by any club. The new 30ft x 9ft. launch Gold ’Bell built by Mr. Len Bell for his brother, Mr. A. T. Bell, has now taken the water and looks a trim craft. Air. Bell will us© her for cruising. His other launch, All Bell, is now for sale. The district engineer of Public Works suggests that launch owners mooring their boats in Hobson Bay n

should now use the waterway under No. 2 railway bridge in the bay, and the new dredged channel to the temporary bridge at Hobson Point. Mr. T. Fookes launched his 22-footer Ivokiri during the week-end. Over at Bayswater Celox is nearly ready to go down, and all boats are well advanced. The 22-footer Marie and the launch Hanene are going down this week. The Akarana Y’acht Club will hold its first committee meeting on Thursday evening when sub-committees will be appointed. THE LATE MR. ALFRED BROWN

Yachtsmen throughout New Zealand and particularly those who have made ! the annual ocean voyage to Tauranga, ; have learned with the deepest regret of the death of Mr. Alfred Brown, of : Tauranga, announced in The Sun last ! evening. He was a great sportsman ; and a great host. Scores of yachts- j men remember with pleasure his hos- I pitality, and his kindly regard for their j enjoyment when visiting Tauranga. j The sympathy of all boating men will t go out to Mr. Brown’s relatives. THE SAILING CANOES The annual meeting of the Wakatere Canoe Club was held in the Narrow Neck Hall. The report stated that last season had been a most successful one from a sailing, social and financial standpoint. Racing had been very keen, although the canoes were of different sizes. The club had carried on its activities throughout the winter. Monthly socials had served the dual purpose of keeping members together and swelling the funds of the club. Thanks to Mr. Brooke senior and Mr. Hunt, use had been obtained of the Narrow Neck Hall from the Bevonport Borough Council. The stage had been enlarged at the club's expense. The idea of a boathouse on the beach was being steadily kept in mind. In the meantime the present arrangement was very satisfactory. Following are the officers for the I year:—President, Mr. J. Brooke; vice- | presidents, Messrs. Buckley, A.. Grayson and E. Brooke; commodore, Mr. R. Hunt; vice-commodore, Mr. N. Wing; hon. secretary, Mr. E. S. Hood; lion, treasurer, Mr. S. Richardson; general committee, Messrs. H. Grut, B. Grut, G. Kemp, R. Buckley, J. Hunt, A. Williamson, B. Haycock and A. Newell. Tho Wakatere Canoe Club held its first race off Narrow Neck Beach during the week-end. The placings were: Wiritoa (Wl), first; Wahine (W 3), second; Winnit (W 4), third; Wainarie (W 7), fourth; Whitewings (W 8), fifth. The race was quite keenly contested and the boys felt happy at getting into their stride again. This canoe club has a comprehensive programme ahead. It includes Keates’s Sailing Shield (championship on club regatta day); Wakatere Cruising Club (handicap 10-mile race); Paddling Trophy, 15 miles on regatta day; Women’s Paddling Trophy% 100 or 220yds; Women’s Sailing Shield, crews and canoes to be balloted for, points over three races; Married Men’s Trophy, handicap, 100 or 220yds; aggregate shields for men’s and women’s racing . There is to be a Mug Shield for the member judged to have committed the silliest act during the year’s racing. MODEL YACHT NOTES A successful model yacht meeting was. recently held at the residence of Mr. Bevans, Senr., Upland Road, Remuera. It was unanimously decided that a club be formed on the Orakei Basin, the club to be the “Orakei Basin Model Yacht Club.” The following officers were elected: —Patron, Mr. J. A. Hellaby; president, Mr. Bevans, Senr.; club captain, Mr. IL Jackson; secretary and treasurer, Mr. L. Retter; committee, Messrs. Bevans, 11. Jackson, L. Retter, G. Jackson, Kaj*, Mackinlay, and Macdonald. The following appointments were left open:—Handicapper, judge, starter and timekeeper. Present intentions are to open the season on Labour Bay.