AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 156, 4 July 1925, Page 25

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL.)

The date of the first race for the 192(3 Sanders Cup contest has been fixed for Friday, February 10, by the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association. The seconu race will be set for the following day. These dates were decided on after consultation with the harbour master as to the suitability of the tides. It was also pointed out by the chairman, Mr. W. R. Waters, that any earlier date would not give tho Auckland boat and crew time to get to Dunedin after competing in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta on January 29. Thi3 fact was recognised by the; association, and on Mr. motion, the date as above mentioned was decided on. Sailors are well known to be averse

to starting a voyage on a Friday. "Speedwell does not think that this superstition has much weight with yachtsmen, beyond the fact that few, if any, will launch their boat on a Friday. The fact remains, however, that the last contest commenced on Friday, Jaunary 30, and that it spelt bad luck for the Auckland

boat. Will the same thing apply to Dunedin? Possibly the veteran, Alf. Wiseman's mana, will be strong enough to break the spell. Matthews' certainly j was not. j It may interest the many owners of ' speed launches in Auckland to know that the Dunedin Exhibition authorities are very favourably disposed to putting on a race for speed boats at the Exhibition Regatta next February. Xo less than £100 will be offered as the first prize, and even this may be substantially increased. The matter was brought to the attention of the Dunedin authorities by a letter from an Auckland enthusiast who expressed his willingness to take his speed boat to Dunedin if sufficient inducement were offered. The matter of securing concessions for competing boats was also discussed, and it was decided to write to the shipping companies and the railway authorities to try and secure concessions for boats visiting Dunedin. Tho annual prize night of the Royal j Xew Zealand Yacht Squadron will take I place in the Squadron rooms on Thursj day, July 23. His Excellency, the Governor-General, Sir Charles Fergusson, Bart., has signified his intention jof being present, and will present the , prizes. His Excellency has already shown keen interest in yachting, and has promised a cup for competition by the Squadron boats for next season. It is quite likely that he may be seen afloat on the Waitemata during the coming season if his duties permit. On Friday week the officers and members lof the Squadron entertained the garrii son officers. During the evening a bili liard tournament was held, Captain I William Ross the veteran skipper, proving the winner, and being heartily congratulated on his success. Mr. A. E. Gilford, commodore, has just returned from a visit to Xapier, where he reneweel acquaintance with the Cup representatives who visited Aueklnnd at the end of January. Mr. Tom ! Alexander, vice-commodore, has been in indifferent health for some months, aieel he left by the last trip of the R.M.m.s. Aorangi for Sydney. He will be absent for about two months. It is hoped that the change will do much to improve his health, Great satisfaction is shown by Squadron members at the prospect of two additional boats racing in the club's IS-foot restricted patiki clas3 ncxe seai son. I During the month the following prize nights will be held: Wednesday, July 15, Manukau Yacht Club; Saturday, July 18, Point Chevalier Boating Club: Thursday, July 23, Royal Xew Zealand Yacht Squadron and Ponsonby Cruising Club; Wednesday, July 29, Takapuna i Boating Club. " " | The Akarana Club's third monthly dance will be held in the Xew Zealand. Power Boat Association's rooms. King's j Drive, next Saturday. The Takapuna (lub held their annual plain and fancy dress ball in the club house last Wednesday, when the arctic scenery was again much admired. Special boats and buses conveyed visitors home after the dance. a convenience which was greatly appreciated. This very live club has already raised over £2000 for the club house fund, the latest method being the elec- ■ tion of life members on payment of ten years' subscription. The Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club helel their annual ball and distribution of prizes in the Town Hall on Monday evening. There was a large attendance. Commodore Percy Carter making the guests welcome, being ably seconded by the other officers and committee. The decorations were in keeping with the nautical function, the

stage holding two boats of the Tauranga one design seven-foot class in full rig. The lady members had charge of the supper, and tne gathering was voted the best in the history of the club. In the absence in Wellington of the patron, Mr. C. E. Macmillan. M.P., Mr. Colin Xorris presented the prizes to the fortunate skippers. A feature was the great in the club's Midget (7ft) class during the past season. The principal prize winners were as follow: Firstclass yachts: Matua. winner of Mr. C. E. Macmillan's trophy for class aggregate, Janet being second. Second-class yachts, Sea Love, winner of commodore's trophy and class aggregate with 3S points. Xo Surrender, 3o points, being second. Third-class yachts: Scout, wini ncr of class aggregate with 19 points, Tui and Petrel tying for second place. Fourth-class. 7-footers: Mistral, winner jof rear-commodore's trophy and champion burgee, also the Thursday anel Saturday series of races, anil Mr. Jas. Roleertson's |cup and gold medal. Dottrcll worn Mr. ('. MofTatt's t,ropliy for this class, and [Jonquil tlic Mann Cup. In the power jboat division. Helen C. won Mr. George Maltby's trophy, scoring the highest aggregate with 20 points, Lapwing being second with 20 points. Rewa won the race to Motuhoa, and Kingfish the Mount race (Mr. Jas. Robertson's trophy). Mr. Xorris congratulated the club on the fine show of trophies ami the good progress maele during the past season. The seven-foot class was now represented at Whangarei and Wellington and promised to become even more popular in Tauranga next year. Mr. Xorris also congratulated Graham Carter, the nine-year-old son oi the commodore, on securing none prizes. The Lyric Orchestra supplied the musical portion of the programme. Messrs. Willcock and Randle acted as M.C.'s, dancing being indulged in till a late hour.

The many Auckland friends of Captain E. Conor O'Brien must have been pleased to learn from our AVednesday's issue that he arrived home on Monday, June 22, thus completing his voyage around the world in his 12-ton ketch rigged yacht Saoirse. The venturesome skipper and his crew of three received a very cordial welcome on their arrival at his home port. The cruise extended over two years, during which time about 40,000 miles were covered. Xo doubt a full account of the adventure will be published in book form. The only reward which Captain O'Brien lxyjes to win is the gold medal of the Royal Cruising Club, awarded annually bvtbis association for the most meritorious performance by a member. The late Lieutenant Mulhauser was awarded this coveted trophy for his voyage to Auckland and back in the yawl Amaryllis over two years ago. Amaryllis waa over 50ft long, the Saoirse 40ft, the ketch Pandora, which sailed from Bunbury, West Australia, to Auckland, and afterwards round the Horn and up to Xew York, was 36ft over all, while the midget of all was Tilicum, less than 30ft long, in which Captain Voss made a voyage from England to Xew Zealand and back again. Pandora, sailed by Captains Blythe and Arapakis, was lost on the journey from Xew York to London.

Although tho international Star class has not yet become very popular on the Waitemata, this class continues to boom elsewhere, especially in America, where it originated in 1911. The latest issue of "Starlights," per favour of Mr. W. Swinnerton, gives particulars of four Star boats which are to leave Honolulu on July 22 for Xew York, where they will compete in the annual international championship races for the class, to be held on Long Island Sound from August 30 to September 5. The journey to Xew York and back to Honolulu represents a distance of 12,000 miles, probably the longest ever taken for a small boat event. The prizes offered for this series of races total 27, the principal one being the International Championship Trophy, which carries with it gold medals for the skipper and crew. Another prize is tjie Davis Trophy, which is a model of a Star class boat. The winner also takes a suit of Star sails, with a gold championship star on them. A special trophy is offered for boats coming from a distance, known as the Distance Fleet Trophy. The racing season was just commencing when the last mail left, and particulars of an event when eleven Star boats started under the auspices of the Southern Yacht Club of Xew Orleans are given. The event was won NELSON BASS.

Ever since the selectors of the Xew Zealand League team on Saturday night last announced the perseinnel of the 23 players to go to Australia, there has been much complaining because Bass has been left out. Well, the same charge cannot be levelled at us, because we arc putting him iv—in this column. A member of the City Club team, be is one of our best breakaway forwards, anel more than once has been included in the reps., many times for Auckland anil also against the Englishmen and Australian teams. A solid tackier, and possessing a dash of pace, he is a handy man to have on a side, but his long suit is protecting the halfleaek when the referee isn't too strict.

by Spika, sailed by her 17-year-old skip- j j>er, the youngest of the fleet. The ■ Southern is the second oldest yacht club I in the United States, and this was tho first race for the class held under its jurisdiction. Twelve boats were built by a local company during the off-season, and a scene of great enthusiasm greeted the finish of the race. The whistles of the steam yachts and cheers from the j spectators, both ashore and afloat, is • described as surpassing anything of the sort which has ever occurred in those waters. The victory was doubly popular by reason of the fact that the winner was the son of the commodore of the club, who had done a lot to foster the cla-s. The Star class now numbers 30 j organised fleets, containing a totr of I 31S boats on their register. It is eh. vel to be the largest and most popular c1..-s of one-design racing yacht in the world. | A correspondent, F.J.C.C., writing from Onehunga re measurements of it fourteen-footer suitable for both racing [and cruising, will be answered by post.