The Pacific commercial advertiser. [volume] (Honolulu, Hawaiian Islands) 1885-1921, 1885-03-12
YACHT CLUB REGATTA.
Facts and Gossip about the BOaGs and
Crews.


! Through the kindness of Mr.. James Seeley,
| who ia coaching the senior crew of the Homo
| lulu Yacht and Boat Club for the Club
| regatta, to come off on the 28th instant, a
representative of the ADVERTISER had an
| opportunity to inspect the Clubs new six
cared boat, which the senior crew intend to
use on that occasion. The new boat is a
| very handsome one. built by 7. c. Jones of
Victoria, British Columbia, Of Z inch white
cedar, "lap-streak," ami strengthened with
knees of white oak. The boat is 40 feet in
length, known as legal barge" and similar
to the six-oared boat of the Myrtle Club
She is fitted with six seats on rollers, and
the Davis patent rowlocks. These rowIocks
are of new pattern, and are so arranged as
to ensure perfectly square bearing for the
car in any position. There is 3 small roller
set in one face of the rowlock, so as to
lessen the friction as the oar is turned in
the act of rowing also a fat spring,
so adjusted as to relieve the boat from any
considerable shock when the oar strikes
rough water.
The oars are of the most approved pattern.
The spoon blade is strengthened OH the back
instead of the front, in the old style, by
rib Of wood left along the blade A metal
collar surrounds the shaft of the oar, and
against this the small roller in the rowIock
plays. These oars are made of Victoria
spruce, and are finely finished. The oars
are also by Mr.. 7. G. Jones of Victoria
The shape of the boat is little different
in cross section from the one used by the II.
Y. and B. Club in previous regattas, faring
rather more than usual. The framework is
much lighter and yet quite as strong, if not
stronger, than the old boat. The row.
locks are set on the gunwale, but stand
little in from the extreme edge. And here it
may be mentioned that as there has been some
talk about this new boat being an outrigger,
it may be as we'll to state that it is not, nor
can it be imagined to be such. The rule is
that to class boat as an outrigger the row.
locks must be set oHt at least two inches
clear of the gunwale. In this boat they
are, as has been said, set in short distance,
and the leverage distance from the rower's
seat to the rowlock is no greater than in
the old boat belonging to this club. Like
other boats Of this class, this one is fitted
with shoes fixed in position for the rower's
feet. and every care has been taken to make
the pretty craft model in every respect.
Just which boat will win in the approach
ing race is matter to be decided. not by
the boats, but by the crews. The two clubs,
the Iolani and Myrtle, which have accepted
the challenge of the Honoluluans to row
six-oared race on the 28th, will do their best,
no doubt, to carry off the handsome cup
offered by the challenging club, and as not a
man in any of the clubs here would dream
of rowing in any other than a fair, square,
friendly race, the event will be test of skill
and endurance that will be a credit to the
Vanquished, as well as the victors.
A rumor has been floating about town to
the effect that the Myrtles intend to back
out of the approaching race. This is disbe
Iieved by those who know the club best, for
the simple reason that it's members have
the same pluck now that they had when
they carried off the honors last November.
Not only this, but they have the men, the
boat, and the same chance now they have
always had to hold their place as the win
ming crew.
The senior crew Of the Honoluluans is
made up as follows: Stroke, J. I. Dowsett,
Jr.; No. 5, Hay Wodehouse; No. 4, Woolcot
Morse No. 8, John Martin; Ne. 2, John
Holt; No. l, Harry Whitney; Coxswain (as
yeti unknown. This crew is now in the
hands of Mr.. James Seeley, who, at the re-
quest of friends, has come to Honolulu to
do all he can to aid our amateur rowers to
become first-class men in boat. Mr.. Seeley
is not professional oarsman, though he has
won quite reputation for his skill as
trick oarsman, he being able to do almost
anything in boat. He has genuine love
for this most healthfnl sport, and under his
| tuition our amateurs cannot fail to improve
| in the style and quality of their rowing. Mr..
Seeley showed, with commendable pride, a
pair of SOULS presented to him by Mr.. Han
| Ion, who used them when he defeated Ross,
and also used by George W. Lee, who had
Hanlon for his mate, in the great double
scull match rowed at Pullman, ILL.,, in 1888,
| when tie fastest time on record was made.
OF the boat house of the II. Y. B. Club,
all that can be said is that it is complete in
appointments, and, Mr.. Seely says, it is the
finest he has seen out of the United States.