AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LIV, Issue 130, 2 June 1923, Page 21

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL.) The lack of interest taken by owners of motor boats in racing events has , often 'been deplored by local club , officials. Ever since the war this has [ been most marked, for even on Regatta . day, when substantial prizes are offered, the entries in the cruiser classes form . a small proportion to the total of , possibilities. There must be a reason , for this. No doubt the lure of our splendid cruising grounds is the chief factor but there are others. Une : cause is the trouble necessary to get a • cruiser in good condition for racing. - Another is the very indifferent handicapping met with at times in all clubs ; which, if persisted in, disheartens the i best sportsman going. Tho high cost • of fuel has also been no small factor but this is slowly improving and will • continue to do so we hope. While the i public like to see speedy boats racing, . it must be admitted that the sight of i half a dozen boats going from six to '. nine knots is not much of a draw, especially when the handicaps are unknown and the probable winner can ' only bo guessed. On the other hand i when some really fast boats are clue to . race, the attendance of the public is ■ very good, the boats being watched . from start to finish from every possible i vantage. : I While over 90 per cent of the launches ■ built each year have always been of the ■ cruiser class and rightly so yet we can ■ plainly detect a tendency to build speedy boats which is increasing each '■ season. This is a matter which is deserving of every encouragement both ; by clubs and regatta committees, and • may lead to the formation of several • classes of fast launches which will prove good draws at club fixtures. By fast boats we do not mean craft with speeds from 12 to 15 knots but somei thing in excess of 20 knots. The Anniversary Regatta committee lias led the • way in this respect for the past two yoars by offering a good prize and will certainly attain its object in due time. While a speed of 20 knots is slow when compared with the 50, 00 and 70 milers 1 we read of in U.S.A., we arc coming on. '■ From our best speed of 21 knots a few i years ago wo have progressed to 28 nnd next season Speedwell is assured ■ that this will be excelled quite easily. i One of tbe contestants for the blue ■ riband of the Waitemata will be a 22 ■ foot single step hydroplane now in I course of building. Her power plant is i not decided on but will bo in keeping i with the possibilities of over 30 knots. ! A well-known motor enthusiast will ; also build a fast boat with horse power lof about 100. These two are only the forerunners, and while we hope the 21-

foot restricted class will receive the attention it certainly deserves yet a free-for-all is a great attraction and worthy of a good prize. The writer has several times suggested that a class of fast handy run-a-bouts in the vicinity of 30 feet overall would prove popular and it is a pity one of the local clubs has not made some move in the direction of forming such a class. There are many men who, while they like a speedy craft, would not sacrifice everything to I attain speed but a compromise would appeal to them at once. A 28 or 30 footer with a minimum beam, displacement, thickness of planking and engine capacity equal to CO or 70 h.p. should be a very useful day boat as well as fast and would find many supporters. Whilo this class may never be launched, it is safe to say that we shall see some keen contests on the harbour next season at speeds which will open our eyes and make the sport of motor boat racing more popular. It is pleasing to note the busy appearance of most of our boat building establishments at the present time. This augers well for next season and shows there are prospective owners who do not believe in leaving everything to tbe last minute. The market for secondhand boats is distinctly good, especially for well known and tried craft—a number of which have changed hands in the past week or two. The Victoria Cruising Club hold their prize night in the Town Hall on Tuesday next and the Squadron on Friday in their club rooms. The Ponsonby Cruising Club will hold their annual distribution Of prizes' on Friday, July 6th in the club house, St. Mary's Bay. This year the function will take the form of a smoke concert. The Akarana Yacht Club will hold their annual smoke concert and distribution of prizes next month. The Chamber of Commerce, where they have been held for the past four or live years, has proved all too small for this popular fixture and the committee have not yet decided on a substitute. Dr. Phil. Andrew, or Russell, who owned the launch Manu, when stationed in Auckland during the latter part of the war, where he acted as P.M.O. for tlie district, has purchased tlie launch Winsome from Mr. W. A. Wilkinson. To prove her sea-going qualities Mr. Wilkinson offered to deliver her at Russell, anel he left last Sunday week in company with her new owner and two friends. There was a heavy easterly swell on the coast and a thick southeaster blowing, Kaivau being made for shelter. Early on Monday the launch left for Russell, the wind having backed

fto south-west and freshened into ; hard breeze. Bream Head was abeau at 11.45 when one of the crew suddenly remembered he had urgent business te attend to next day so the boat's heac was turned and the passenger landet at Oncrahi wharf. At the invitation o the skipper, Mr. A. R. Pickmere, o Whangarei, joined the ship for the rur to Russell, which was made shortly aftei 2 p.m. on Tuesday, after lying overhigh in Urquhart's Bay, Whangarei Heads The easterly swell was still very bi_ while a fresh nor'-wester made a gradu ally increasing head sea as Cape Bretl was approached. The little ship made good time despite the bad weather, ant completed her journey without missinj a stroke or requiring any other atten tion than refilling the benzine tank anc oil reservoir. The last of the protests was settled or Thursday, when the Akarana Club in vestigated a complaint against Marie fo not carrying a dinghy in the final cruis ing race. It was clearly proved that Marie did carry a dinghy, but not hei usual one, as this one was under repair It was elecided, on the motion of Mr Wilkinson, and carried unanimously "That it has been proved that Marie die carry a dinghy in the race in question although a small one. The club havin" no definite rule as to the size of din"h\ to be carried, Marie cannot be disqualifica." It was further resolved that be fore next season th eclub shall fix th. minimum size of dinghy to be carried bj each class in cruising races, and a sub committee was set up to go into the matter. When the committee's reporl has been received it will be sent on through the club delegates to the Yacht and Motor Boat Association for the approval of that body, with a view ti some concerted action being taken in tbi= matter.