Sails were hoisted for the last time, and the curtain rung down on the sailing season of 1940, which has been such a success, when the Shanghai Yacht Club held their closing cruise, and more than 30 yachts and houseboats of all descriptions assembled off the Admiral Jellicoe on Sunday morning.
By 11 o'clock almost the whole of the Club's active fleet had arrived and with the larger yachts and houseboats dressing ship and all fying their winning flags of the past season, they presented a gay scene resembling that of the Roads during Cowes week in the piping days of peace and must have appeared as a somewhat incongruous sight to the huge evacuation ship Washington which steamed slowly up the Whangpoo just at that time.
At high noon Skippers and their guests assembled on board the Jellicoe to Splice the Main Brace in true Navy fashion when the usual formalities were observed. The Commodore then addressed the gathering from the quarter deck and the prizes were distributed and presented by Mrs. Mann, In the early forenoon "C" Class held an informal race and later the ever popular laodah race was held when Mastah had an opportunity of seeing just how his yacht should be sailed.
The most outstanding event of the day was the presence of the Commodore's new 8-metre yacht Twin Star which has been built from plans sent out from England and has been taking shape these last few months in a local yard to be launched ard rigged only a few days ago. Her Australian Ponies Arrive in Shanghai A shipment of 26 Australian ponies arrived in the Tanda last week for account of the Shanghai Race Club. Unfortunately, one met with an accident on landing and had to be destroyed, and yesterday another also had to be destroyed owing to injuries. The ponies are subscription griffins and will be drawn for in due course. The shipment arrived in poor but fair condition, and appears to consist of a good stamp of animal. This lot will make a total of upwards of 50 Australian ponies. beautiful lines and well set Bermudian main sail on hollow spars were the envy of all, and even brought forth shudders of doubt from the invincible skippers of Valerie and Ingomar as to their chances next season, Mignon is, however, not worrying over much as she more than held her own against the new yacht in the sail home to the slipway those present were:—Commodore's Sloop Restless, Hon. Secretary's Yaw! Thais, Sailing Secretary's Ella, Parson's motor houseboat, attended by Valerie, Mr.
Ingomar with the motor Dunvulle and a large party aboard, Mr. Berents Houseboat Winnie, Mr. W. Neils cutter Kerr, and party, with E:
Banob Sloop Mignon. Rich-yacht Viking alongside, Mr. J. mands Yw Haven. MP, C. J. Pleace's Mr. William McBain's and the whole of the large fleet some twelve "C" Class Yachts and their skippers and friends Successful Season The Valkyra, Charme and even Mr. H. E. Middleton's fine yawl Eveline were seen at anchor off Gough Island but the latter was apparently there more by accident than design.
Text read from the printed page and cleaned; old type leaves the occasional error.