OUT OF THE LOCKER

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 894, 11 February 1930, Page 16

OUT OF THE LOCKER

NOTES FROM ROUND AND ABOUT The E class keeler May Belle left on Saturday morning on a cruise up North. • * ft The auxiliary mullet-boat Twilight, Mr. H. Howell and party, left on Saturday on a cruise to Russell and Whangaroa. ft ft * The launch Kenya, which has been on an extended cruise, returns home on Saturday. • ft * The usual weekly dance of the Akarana Yacht Club will be held in the clubhouse tomorrow night at 8 o’clock. • • ft Winners of prizes in the Anniversary Day regatta are reminded that the distribution ceremony has been fixed for 8 o’clock on Friday, February 28, in the Navy League rooms, Simich Building. The presentations will probably be made by the Mayor, Mr. G. Baildon. ft * * On Saturday next the Akarana Yacht Club is holding its Cup Day. There will be handicap races for keel boats and classes H, L, IST. M, V, S. T. X„ Y; race for Star class; races for launches, outboards, speedboats, and Tauranga 7ft class. There will be an “At Home’’ in the clubhouse in the afternoon, followed by a dance in the evening. The club picnic will be held on Sunday. The flagship will’ be the Valkyrie, kindly lent by Captain Gilling.

A number of yachts and launches, particularly the powered craft, have left port for the usual February cruise. If the weather which has prevailed during the last week or so holds up for a fortnight the departing crews should have a better time than those who had to take their vacation at Christmas and the New Year. Several boats have gone to the big game fishing grounds at Russel and Mercury Bay.

Not for a very long time have Auckland yachtsmen had the pleasure of meeting so notable a personality in the world of racing yachts than Colonel Duncan Neill, D. 5.0., friend and adviser to the greatest yachtsntan, Sir Thomas Lipton. Colonel Neill arrived in Auckland yesterday by the Niagara from Sydney with his brother, Mr. R. G. Neill, who is also a well-known yachtsman. In yesterday’s issue; The Sun printed a very interesting Interview with Colonel Neill. It was all about the four historic Shamrocks, and Shamrock V., which is now building for this year’s America Cup race.

Colonel Neill and his brother were entertained at lunch yesterday by the commodore of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Mr. W. P. Endian. The colonel is much impressed with the Waitemata. Harbour as a yachting domain. “It is much better than Sydney,” he remarked after coming up the Channel and seeing something of the expanse of the Hauraki Gulf. Sydney is a very beautiful sheet of water, but anyone who knows Port Jackson will agree with the colonel that the harbours ca.nnot be compared with the 'Waitemata, both from the racing or the cruising point of view.

Colonel Neill and Mr. Neill hope to have the opportunity of seeing more of the harbour from the angle most familiar to them—from under the boom of a keel yacht. The colonel has only a short stay here, as he returns by the Rarigitane. It is a pity that he cannot stay long enough to view the annual race for the Lipton Cup, in which one of Auckland’s best racing classes, the 22-foot mullet-boats, are seen in action. Waitemata yachtsmen will wish the visitors a pleasant stay ip New Zealand.

Mr. Roy Lidgard was out during the week-end in hitf auxiliary Arethusa. He towed Winifred down to the peninsula with the 24-100 l auxiliary Welcome Jack also in attendance.* The object was to catch fish. Nets were set, but nothing was caught. The boats then set off for Shearer Rock in search of ‘hapuka. One schnapper was caught by the Arethusa’s crew and it is understood the other boats each caught a fish.

* » * , r . h , G rac « on the Devonport Yacht s Programme on Saturday for the babies, ’ the Tauranga seven-footer class, drew seven starters, and was thoroughly enjoyed by the spectators. The race was started by Mr. W. A. Wilkinson, official starter, with full five-flag gear, and Master Pelhem, in Weona, exhibited a wonderfullv smart efiort in getting away. He was conceding seven minutes to three boats, and was determined not to lose time. The course, in a light southerly, with an ebbing tide, was from Devonport Wharf to the Spit beacon, round a mark boat off the old wharf and back to the starting line. Dawn was unforunately blanketed by a bigger boat but stuck out and caught up splendidly. Weona held the advantage all the way, but the finish, five boats in a row, Weona, Jonquil, Wishwynne, Midget, Whoopee, at distances of about five yards, was worth watching. On corrected times the Edwin Cup goes to Master Inkster, of Bayswater, with Midget (7m), second; Wishwynne (4m) owned by Mr. Cogswell and sailed by Master W. Todd, third; Imp (7m). owned and sailed by Master Dance. Messrs. G. Miller sund H. G. Carnachan were judges. ft ft • The Wakatere Canoe Club will hold its fourth annual regatta during the coming week-end, the events starting off Narrow' Neck beach. Saturday’s programme includes paddling races, novelty races, women’s races, rowing events, and a married men’s race. On the following day the championship sailing race for W Class canoes will take place, also a 10-mile cruising race for the Wakatere Cruising Cup. A number of trophies have been given, and it is expected that there will be keen competition. MODEL-YACHT NOTES The Orakei Basin Model Yacht Club held a series of races on Saturday. Result of the boys’ race is as follows:—Bonzo (Him), 1; Silver King (IJm), 2; Midget (4im), 3. Club boys will be racing shortly for a handsomely designed medal given by Mr. A. R. Bevins, of Upland Road. Since Anniversary Day several challenges have been Issued and accepted among the first class boats. To prove that the Orakei models are not “lumps of wood,” ridiculed by one person, the owners of the the following models, Nigger, Felix, Silver Bell, Aracataca, and White Wings, will race any model in Auckland province, off scratch, over a harbour course, starting from Orakei, round Duder’s light, round compass adjuster, back to starting point, says an official of the club.