AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVI, Issue 246, 17 October 1925, Page 25

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL.) The keen racing to be found in onedesign and restricted classes has been clearly demonstrated to us in Auckland during the past four or five years, the M class being a striking example in this respect, as the four boats have all crossed the finishing line within one minute on occasions. This is the best argument for continued support of such classes, which make for good handling ami keen racing generally. Evidently similar conditions prevail in England with like good results, for a recent issue of "The Yachtsman," contains the following editorial which is quite interesting to those who advocate this form of boat racing. The article says: "We must each of us realise that some of the hardest sailing and some of the closest races we have ever seen have almost invariably occurred in one or other of the smaller classes. It is an undeniable fact that where two or three yachtsmen living in or around a given sailing locality get together and indulge in a one-design class, for example that competition amongst the various boats of the class is at feverpitch throughout the season and the possibility of a race being a mere sailover so remote as not to be worth a moment's thought. By thus quoting one-design classes as a case in point, we do not wisli it to be interpreted that we entirely agree with this form of racing. Granted that the establishment of a class built under a rating rule always leaves a door open to the man with better-lined pockets than his fellows to indulge in a better and. if possible, faster boat. On the othe.hand. however, the mass production of a series of small boats, all built as like to each otiier as so many peas, although eliminating the chances of the richer man getting the better boat, at the same time somewhat cramps the Etyle of the designing fraternity, since