A presentation made to Commodore F . J . Palmer .
Suggestions were being received regarding Sun · day racing . Replies were deferred pending advice as
10 whether Her Majesty the Queen was likely to object in any way lo Sunday racing by a yacht club wilha Royal Charter . In July the Private Secretary to His Excellency the Governor informed the club that there was no objection to holding yacht races on Sundays , provided that the State laws on Sunday spon were not ooncravcned .
By October 1952 it was reported that most of the certified Dragon owners in New South Wales were located close to the Pinwater . The following November . the Commodore donated a peacock and a peahen to the club , to be located at Green PoinL We can find no record of what happened to them and it is a pity thm their progeny a (' C not gracing the lawns today .
Light winds spoilt most of the rocing for the 1952-53 season . In the Harbour and the Pinwater , as well as for ocean races up and down the coast . light windiinthesummerseasonmeaneasterlies . lhrough south to north . and this means a great percentage of leading both ways no matter bow hard the race officials try to set the course with wi11dward works and running . The Comminee decided during the season to request yachtsmen to put lheir racing numbers on their spinnakers next season lO assist race officials identify boats , especially when crossing the finishing line . They also decided to improve facilities at I . be Pittwater clubhouse . which was becoming increasingly popular .
Good breezes through the J 953-54 season resulted in some excellent racing . The season was highlighted by a visit from Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II in February 1954 . The club doruued
£ 100 towards the Royal Visit Regalia . which was an enonnous success .
In lhe Harbour , Division No . J plus the Restricted Division and lhe Dmgons provided 01e best racing , with good fleets starting every Saturday and sailing under percentage handicaps ( except Dragons which were sailing off scratch ) and flying starts . This type of starting and handicapping was populnr nnd most efficient . The Dmgon class bad proved to be very populur with members . The club had also increased the interest in Olympic yachting by pu . rchasing an international 12 sqwtrc metre Sharpie from England .
Allhougb it was noted in the Annual Repon that interest in racing in the Pittwater was falling off . the popularity of the club ' s premises at Green Point was still strong . A special sub-commince was fonned in the 1953-54 season to run Pittwater , under lhe leadership of Rear-Commodore John Smyth . and a great deal of money was spent in making the clubrooms more oomfortable and in other improvements .
118