EXAMINATION OF YACHTS

Evening Post, Volume CXXVIII, Issue 93, 17 October 1939, Page 8

EXAMINATION OF YACHTS

(To the Editor.)

Sir, —Mr. W. Duncan has pointed out that in a month or so many yachts and other pleasure craft will be leaving Wel.Ungion for r,ht..ir annua; cruises to the Marlborough Sounds. In due curse Lhf-y will return and, in view. of what happened to the fishing-boat Dolphin,, 1 desire to offer a suggestion that may not occur of its own accord to the advisers of the Minister of Defence

If a yacht or Other small craft can be properly identified as one which belongs to Wellington, md has crossed the Strnits to the South Island only a wek or two earlier, it' seems an unnecessary pie y e of rituax to stop it for examination. There' are also difficulties and even dangers in ccmirig alongside a steamer in a choppy sea that only a small-boat sailor can appreciate. To laymen the identification of yachts may seem almost impossible; but slight differences in rig, sails, and hull enable yachtsmen to distinguish, individual craft at a considerable distance. It should be easy to find at least half a dozen responsible members of yacht clubs who could identify practically every yacht or launch in Wellington Harbour, and if the defence authorities could be persuaded to accept their assistance while the cruising season lasts, the examination of small craft would be much facilitated. I am sure the assistance would be very willingly given. -. •

Such a scheme would also eliminate another danger. It is impossible for a sailing vessel to remain stationary, as a steamer can: she must keep moving to retain steerage way. A yacht which has been signalled to stop may appear *to the uninitiated to be continuing on her . course when actually she is hove-to as well 'as weather conditions will permit. It is unreasonable to expect artillery officers to be judges of such factors as these,/and it is unfair to expose yachtsmen to the danger of being fired on for supposed disobedience to orders when they are coping with difficult conditions of wind and sea. There will have to be give and take, and the presence of one or two experienced yachtsmen in the forts might help to avoid unfortunate errors. —I am, etc., . W. P. ROLLINGS. :