YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 31, 31 October 1928, Page 9

YACHTING

BY

"NEREUS"

CLUB OPENING DATES. Royal Port Nicholson. —November 10. Plimmerton. —November 10. Worser Bay.—November 17. Paremata. —November 18. Evans Bay.—November 24.

Some amusement was caused last Saturday afternoon, when the new Sanders Cup aspirant, Clyde, was being christened. The first knock with the champagne was not true, and the bottle sank in some six feet of cold, sea water. After 20 minutes’ futile grappling, an enthusiast appeared in bathing costume, and soon retrieved the champagne. The second shot did not miss by any means, so that she set out on her first spin well and truly christened. As no other boat was with her, no accurate comparison could be made as to speeds. All Black will be on the water this Saturday, however, and an interest ing contest should result. Wairere 11. was launched on Sunday, and her mast was stepped during the afternoon.

Oyster comes down this Saturday. Her crew hope to be sailing by opening day. Mana went up on Sunday, and should come down in about a fortnight's time. Quite a number of sails were to be seen on the harbour during the week-end. Yachts which left the boat harbour were Windward Viola, Linnet, and Miru. Nanette was rigged during the weekend. Galatea and Isca have not yet been out of the water. Both could well do with a spell of drying out. Marangi came down in the latter part of the week, and was rigged during the week-end. . .

This season the Port Nicholson MotorBoat Club and the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club are not combining for the opening function. The Motor-Boat Club has been offered the use of the R.P.N.Y.C. clubhouse on any Saturday following their own opening date. Plimmerton Doings.

The owners at Plimmerton are looking forward to a good season and a great amount of preparation and overhauling is being carried out. The club opening will take place on November 10. Mr. Frank Bryant has bought Boomerang. She has been renamed Hula. With her overhaul finished she has already been out for a spin. In the hands of one of the club’s most promising skippers, big things are expected from her during the season. Sea Lady, which is owned by Mr. France, is undergoing repairs. She is expected to be ready for opening day. Mermaid will appear again this season, but under new ownership.

Opawa and Tuakana, owned by Mr. Harold Thompson and Mr. Alan Waddel respectively, are still in the course of overhaul.

Pukenui was out on Saturday and showed that she has not lost any of her speed during the off season.

Repair work has been carried out on the slipway which will make the shifting of the boats to and fro from the water much easier.

The opening day programme is a good one and Mr. T. Bryant has drawn up a very acceptable succession of races for the season. The committee are endeavouring to make this season the most successful one yet. From present indications their wish may be realised. I’aremata Club.

At the last committee meeting of the Paremata Club events for opening day were finalised. This has been set down as November IS. Two yacht races will be held in the forenoon. For the afternoon there will be an open outboard event, any class boat from any club. There will be a trophy for each of the first second and third boats. At three o’clock the season Will be declared open by Mr. F. Brady. During the day the new arrival from Auckland. Queen March, will be officially christened Miss Josephine, and launched on the Wellington province waters. Week-end Doings.

Wai-iti, the Evans Bay launch, came down over the week-end.

Nautilus, from Evans Bay, also took the water after her annual overhaul.

Several outboards were out practising over the week-end. They included Miss Hoover, Miss Elto, Miss Raleigh, Miss Lockwood I and Miss Lockwood "11. All were seen in Oriental Bay on Sunday afternoon.

All the keel yachts of Evans Bay are reported to .be far enough advanced to see the whole fleet in the water by next weekend.

Kio 11, a new 14-footer, was launched on Sunday. She Is a centre-boarder owned by Mr. Bolland. A very neat boat she is, beautifully finished, and a credit to her owner and builder. She is painted white and ■ carries the usual cutter rig. All being well, Hurrlca,. Mr. B. Tonk’s new 14-foot square bilge boat from the bar comes down to-day. The first Marconirigged boat of her size in Wellington, she carries a 24ft. 3in. stick. She will be attached to the R.P.N.Y.C.

Fitted with an outboard, a dinghy from the boat harbour turned tug over the week-end ■ and secured alongside a boat harbour yacht took her round Jernlngham and back. Considering that the speed was in the vicinity of five miles an hour this ably demonstrates its usefulness and tractive power. The Heretaunga Club’s fourth Takapuna has come down and is a splendid boat. Made by Mr. Burd, her owner, a cabinetmaker. she has a varnished Hull with a blue deck and white bottom.

Worsen Bay boats were well in evidence at the week-end. The boats have all different colour schemes and present a pleasing contrast. Karkarikl has green topsides, white deck and bottom; Ngaroma is varnished with white deck and bottom, Marti cream with white deck and bottom. Spitfire blue with white deck and bottom, Gipsy blue with white deck and bottom, and Joan (a 13-footer) all white.