AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LI, Issue 290, 4 December 1920, Page 18

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL.)

Tlie Ponsonby Club was "favoured with exceptionally fine weather last week for the cruising race to Arkle's Bay. The entries were good in all the sailing classes, the power boats not being quite so well represented- It was rather a pity that the 14-foot one-design boats were required to sail with the handicapped boats, the prime object of this class being to do away with handicaps. There were seven of the new class entered, and they would have made a very good race by themselves. It is a difficult matter to handicap the 14-foot

"flatties" and the one-design boats. On tho day the "flatties" were faster, but it is only in a strong breeze and fairly smooth water s that they can win, in spite of their extra sail area. Only two one-design boats started, the others not caring to race in a handicap event. No doubt the officers of this was the second club in Auckland to take up the cause of the one-design class, and donated several sums to owners who built their own boats, will keep them to themselves the next time a race is given for the small boats. The Victoria Club, which held harbour races this afternoon, made separate events of the two classes.

Queenie was the most successful boat last Saturday, winning both the first prize in her own class and the first prize for the general handicap, which, was sailed at the same time. Starloch, the 26-footer which has been out of commission for the past three years, also sailed very well, aided by her newsuit of sails, and annexed the prize in her class. Surf won the power boat event, and she deserved her win, as she is the most consistent performer we know. Her time can be calculated to a minute or two, the only variance being due to the tide, which in this case was dead against the competitors all the way. It is doubtful if the strength of the tide, which is a constant factor in a race as opposed to the wind, which is a very variable factor, is given the consideration it really merits when handicaps are being framed.

Artie's Bay presented a very pretty sight on Saturday evening when the moon rose about S o'clock, over 50 boats lying at anchor off the wharf. A dance was held in the pavilion, which was well attended, a .largo number of ladies going down in the various boats, accommodation being found for them ashore. Early next morning the power-boat fleet were underwe'gh for tlie fishing grounds, which lie about three miles east sjri the bay, and some excellent hauls of school schnapper were obtained, in some cases over 200 fine fish were caught.

About dusk on Saturday an accident; happened on board the launch Loew Victor, which has been attended with very serious consequences. It seems thati the crew of this launch bad cooked their evening meal on a double primus stove of the usual type, using both i burners. The meal had been prepared,; and one stove turned off. the other being used for boiling water for washing up. There were six on board, three being in the cockpit, two in the cabin, and one for'ard. Suddenly the stove, which was about to he put out, exploded with great force. Athol Bailey, who was one of those in the cockp : t. was blown right overboard while a sheet of flame enveloped the whole after end of the boat, setting fire to the cushions and other cabin fittings. One member of the crew, with great presence of mind, grabbed a blanket and threw the remains of the stove ovenboard, afterwards assisting to smother the flames in the cabin. Boats were lying all around the launch, and wiling hands at once came a>board and finaiiy got the fire out. Yonng Bailer and W. Webb were the greatest sufferers, both being extensively burned about the face, body, and legs. Dr. G. Lalpraik. who fortunately was a guest on board Marguerite, promptly attended to the sufferers -and sent them to town, where they were removed to a private hospital. The launch put up record time on the nay up, doing the trip in lh 12m. Latest reports show that Athol Baile.v. who is the youngest son of .Mr. Ch„i. Bailey, of Devonport, has improved a little, and W. Webb is well on the wav to recovery "Various theories have been put forward as the cause of the explosion but very little definite information can be gathered. The stove was of the usual pattern and in good order. It is the custom of some foo'.hardv men to use benzine as fuel in their primus stoves In this case we are assured that the fuel was kerosene as they had never used benzine in their stove. Another theory is that the rings which go over

the top of the stove and serve to keep the bottom of the kettle or frying p»a about half an inah away from the Maine, sometimes get lost overboard, and the utensils are therefore too elo.-c <10.,.i to the flames, causing the stove io become unduly hot. Another theory is that by turning off one burner, greater pressure is thrown on the other one, but this is not correct. Whatever the cause may have been, the fact remains that, treated properly, little servants are generally very reliable, and the few explosions which we know of have been traced in nearly evcrv case to some transgression of the usual methods of procedure. The writer has only known of two actual explosions, both being on single stoves. One was on board Calypso, in Islington Bay, about seven years ago, which fortunately explodexi while the crew iiere •inside having their tea. The second case was on the launch La Belle, lvin" off Bui oi, when two persons on boarwere burned about the face. In this instance their kerosene had run out, and benzine was used. "When you consider the number of meals prepared on these stoves each week end, tcvsav nothinoof those in daily use ashore, the proportion of accidents is very small indeed.

At the same time it is little short of criminal to use benzine in these stoves especially on board a, boat, where it Is not always possible to get ashore in case, of accident, thus endangering the lives of all on board by this pernicious practice. If our readers have personal knowledge of the cause as well as the effect of explosions on primus stoves we shall be glad to hear of them, as it may help to throw some light on the working of one of "Che undoubted conveniences of cruising.

Practically the whole of our large fleet of yachts and power boats are now 'n the water, last week's tide bein- very good. ° J

The yacht Waitangi left the boat harbour, Wellington, at 6 p.m. last Saturday on her voyage to Auckland. We learn that bad weather was experienced ia Wellington on Sunday and Monday, but Waitangi is a splendid sea boat, and she has a good skipper (Mr. Tom Alexander) and crew. No doubt before these notes appear the good ship will have arrived at her new home port. It is hardly likely she will race next Saturday, as a lot of work remains to be done aboard her.

A meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association will be held in the Coastal Masters' rooms on Monday evening, when several matters will come up for settlement, the most important being the question of carrying leading jibs in the 14-foot class.