AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIII, Issue 78, 1 April 1922, Page 18

AQUATICS.

IBy "SPEEDWELL."j The performance of Vanitie, the new keel boat of the Tasman ian one-design type, against Queenie, in the Victoria Cruising Club's handicap last Saturday was disappointing, to say the least of it, but it always takes some time to get a new" boat into real racing trim. It may be remembered that Pacific was just the same when launched and it was well into the second season before she showed her true form. With only two sails Vanitie was carrying less canvas than Queenie, which was well suited by the weight ana direction of the wind and sailed very well, Waitere putting up a good performance to get as close to her as she did. With more weight in the wind and more windward work Vanitie may yet surprise us. The winner of the event proved to be the 20-footer Gloaming, which was well handled by 0. Riley. Marie, as usual, sailed a good race, getting away first out of the 27 starters, and beating two of the 2G-footers in. Another boat which sailed well was Secret, our only .Marconi rigged boat, and she looked like a winner passing the flagship, finishing ahead of three 22's and all the 20-footers. Forest Gold, which has not done m>ue_ racing, showed to better advantage than usual, and made a dead heat with Queenie for second place on corrected times. The handicapping In the big race was very good, but the smaller classes often upset all calculations, which bathe merit of distributing the honours. It was a pity Desert Gold was not racing, as the fight between Rona, Iron Duke and her is always worth following. For a change, Nyria and Joan filled second and third places, both beating Iron Duke, while Ola also improved her form and got within four seconds of the Duke. Rona led most of the way, ana apart from being a bit lucky under Northcote point, she well deserved her win, which makes eight for the season. Nyria showed up to better advantage than she has done since the earlier races and she may now keep to the fore. The race this afternoon, also under the Victoria Club's flag, is a general handicap for all classes of 14-footers, a sort of go-as-you-please, and several 1-t's will lie carrying larger sails than usual, Desert Gold and Rona amongst them. It will be a pretty keen go between Sea Gnome, the champion square bilge boat, and tho one-designers, and should settle the question of the relative speed of the two classes, each of which has many supporters. The one-designers should win unless it is very light. Although the Victoria Club's events are usually well managed, yet a little more consideration might be shown to the Press in the matter of getting the handicaps. On application to the proper officials we were informed on Friday that the club had not received the handicaps in two of the small classes, and so were unable to supply them. It should be the first duty of a handicappcr to send a copy to the club's secretary. The incident has been satisfactorily explained, but officials however willing, cannot supply information which they have not received. Tho weather on Sunday morning gave no indication of the sudden change which set in about 3 p.ir*. The wind was from the north, and the almost perfect conditions of the morning quickly gave place to a thunderstorm accompanied by vivid lightning and torrential rain, which, starting about 4 o'clock, continued till after dark, giving skippers a rather anxious time until the moorings were picked up, and getting everybody very wet. With'very unsettled weather in February and March it was generally hoped that we should have a tine autumn, but- at present it seems as far off as ever, and our only satisfaction now will I be a fine Easter. Again the sneak thieves are on the warpath, two or three craft being robbed each week. The worst case is that of Mr. A. Hreckon, whose launch Alecia was entered off Sulphur Beach. Northcote. and gear taken to the value of over £100. Dr. .T. Moir also had his launch entered and rugs and provisions stolen. While the police are doing what they can yet it is just about time owners decided to help themselves in this matter. We have been promised a police patrol boat and various other things which have not eventuated, and it has come to this stage that we must rely on ourselves to protect our property. We suggest that a competent night watchman be secured for one or two of the most popular anchorages, such a_ Mechanics' Bay and St. Mary's Bay. In Mechanic's Bay alone there are 50 craft moored. If each owner paid one or two shillings a week it would pay for a watchman who could be on the spot every night, and knowing the boats and their owners would soon detect any intruders. This is the only practical solution of the difficulty to our

mind, and it now wants some public spirited man in each centre to organise the thing to ensure its success. We will see what can be done in Mechanic's Bay for a start, and invite owners of craft | in this locality to send in their names and addresses stating if they approve of the scheme and would be willing to pa 3" a small sum per week towards a caretaker. Address letters to "Speedwell." care "Star" office. Mr. P. F. Carter, of Tauranga, who bought the launch Gwen C. last 6eason from Ponsonb3", re-naming her Helen C, I has been away from his home port on a I three weeks' cruise, during which time he has visited Great Barrier. Moko Hinau, Poor Knights, Russell, Whangaroa, Tutukaka, Whangarei, Kawau, and the city, I leaving here on Monday last for home i via Waiheke and Coromandel. It is proposed to visit the Alderman and Mayor Island if the weather permits. Mr. Carter, who is an old Auckland yachtsman, was accompanied by Messrs. A. J. Merriles. 1). Mcintosh, 'and M. T. X. Bluek, the latter gentleman being a visitor from Tasmania and a member of the | Royal Tasmanian Yacht Club. Needless to say they have all enjoyed the cruise, i especially the fishing at Russell Mr. Louis X"athan has purchased the | lino 45-foot cruising launch Te Atatu ! from Mr. J. A. Holloway. of Stanley Point, who has taken Mavis over from I Mr. Nathan. Te Atatu is about the best '. appointed launch here, and it fitted with | the latest Sterling engine and self- - starter. | Moana and Restless returned last I week from a cruise North. Both visited Russell, while Restless also visited Whangaruru, Tutukaka, Whangarei town I wharf, and Kawau. Aorere is lying in ] Waipiro Bay, also tho 26-footer Esma. The launches Raira and Aumoe returned on Sunday week from a Northern cruise. Showing the reliability of the present day marine engine, especially the slow or medium speed type. Raira has made the non-stop run from Mansion House Bay. Kawau. to Russell wharf on three dif- : ferent cruises and her greatest variance lin time was seven minutes, the run averaging 12 hours 45 minutes. On the way south the boats visited Whangs

ruru and Whangarei, from which port she went to Fitzroy. Raira made the trip from Warren's to Mansion House Bay in a hard north-caster in 3h 30m. News was received by wire on Monday of the death of Mr. Jas. M. Stephenson. Mayor of Port Chalmers. It will be remembered that Mr. Stephenson was here with Heather last year. He always took a keen interest in the sport, holding the highest offices in both the Ravensbourne and Port Clubs. When the 14-footers were first discussed in Dunedin Mr. Stephenson took them up enthusiastically, and ordered two for a start, while this* season he had a third boat built to compete for the honour of being Dunedin's defender. Mr. Stephenson will lie greatly missed by Otago yachtsmen and by his many friends in Auckland, his death coming as a shock to those who visited Dunedin for this year's contest, to whom Mr. Stephenson extended many courtesies. Next Saturday the first race for the Lipton Challenge Cup will be sailed under the auspices of the Ponsonby Club. The race is for 22-footers, six of which have been nominated by local clubs, as follows: Marie (North Shore), Venus (Ponsonby), Valeria (Victoria), Mowai (Point Chevalier), Forest Gold (Manukau), and Lucille (Takapuna).