MEMBERS PREPARING FOR SEASON'S YACHTING

Taupo Times, Volume XIV, Issue 69, 2 September 1965, Page 5

MEMBERS PREPARING FOR SEASON'S YACHTING

Taupo Yacht Club will start its season at Labour weekend when a number of ii ew sailing craft will be put in the water. Through the winter months some club members have been building their craft in the family backyard and one member, at least, has gone to the trouble of extending his garage so that he can build his flying fifteen in comfort. One boat which created interest among some members is a ferro concrete yacht being built by Dr M. Watson. According to yachties in the know, this craft, in spite of its building material, is lighter than similar craft built in timber. The moving population of Taupo has resulted in a falloff in numbers in some yacht classes. At the end of last season the catamarans were the strongest class in the club. There were about 10

in all, but this figure is expected to drop to about half by the start of this season. The same fate seems probable with the moth class, because some of the members left the club during the winter. The cherubs and "P" classes will probably increase in numbers this season and so will the international 14's. New interest was shown in this yacht last year when two of the fourteen's were put in the water. About six of them will be seen on the lake this year. Of special interest to club members this season will be the first "trailer sailer" craft to be sailed by a local yachtsman. This is being built by Mr and Mrs D. Wainright who arrived in New Zealand

from England about three years ago. About 40 sailing craft made up the strength of the fleet at the end of the 1964 club season. There is expected to be a slight increase this year, specially in the smaller classes. Already the club's sailing committee is planning the season's activities. One job taking up much of the committee's time is the revision of the competition course so that the starting box can be shifted to the proposed clubhouse site.