AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 19, 23 January 1926, Page 25

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL.) The choice of Avalon to carry Auckland's colours in the sixth annual contest for the coveted Sanders Cup, was both a wise and an eminently popular one, and she can be relied on to uphold the prestige of the province fully as well as her forerunners have clone. In the hands of Joe Patrick, she will lose nothing in the battle of wits, and skilful manipulation for which these events are generally noted, and even the veteran, Alf. Wiseman, will meet one who is quite able to counter his skilful moves. The owner of Avalon, Frank Cloke, is a good for'ard hand of medium weight, and is at home on the mainsheet. Beyond these two men, the selectors did not go, the idea being that a skipper is entitled to select his own crew. This view of the matter always been advocated by "Speedwell." No doubt Tom Patrick, who has sailed in three of th-2 five racps, will be considered, and this leaves two others t> be chosen. For the first contest in Dunedin. and again at Wellington, \ve have sent six in a crew, but it is really unnecessr r y to send a sixth man. February weather in Dunedin is generally marked with light winds, and no doubt one of the five men will be a light-weight. If an extra man on the light side is required, Vie. Lidgard, who sailed Desert Gold when she won her first race in Dunedin. and did the same with Rona on her final win at Wellington, is deserving of a place. - So is Howard Brown, of Rona. perhaps the smartest for'ard hand sailing in this class. However, this matter rests with the skipper of the chosen boat, and the Association to decide, but the inclusion of one or both of these men would be popular, apart from their acknowledged skill in their respective places. At present it has not been decided whether Avalon will be railed to Dunedin, or shipped by direct steamer. This latter method, while a little longer, perhaps, has the merit of saving three separate

handlings, and for this reason, it is to be preferred. As the contest does not commence until February 19, if the boat leaves Auckland the first weeK in February, she should arrive in time to allow the crew a few days' practice over the actual course. Carrol Hansen intends to have two or three weeds' sailing with Murihiku on Dunedin waters, before this contest. Dunedin men generally, and yachtsmen in particular, are noted for their hospitality, as those who were fortunate enough "to partake of it in 1922 can attest; "and very complete arrangements are in hand to entertain the visiting crews and representatives from the five centres. So far the Canterbury and Dunedin boats have not been named, but they are not obliged to do so until 21 days"before the date of the first race, which will mean January- 28. Konini is to represent Xapier, Peggy will carry Wellington's hopes, and Murihiku, as usual, will represent Southland, so that with a new boat from Auckland And Canterbury, together with the other two named, the contest for 192 C should be one of the best. The Dunedin selectors seem to be in a bit of a quandary over the choice of their defender. It certainly seemedi from a distance that George Kellett and his Winifred would be thfeir choice, but later on Wiseman was evidently perI suaded to sail lona, and she may be their ultimate choice, although the veteran has expressed his wish to sail only in light or moderate weather. Heather has evidently not come up to her old form in spite of good English sails and Bill McCullough at the tiller. There is a little undercurrent of feeling amongst those who know the boats best, that only lona can give the other boats, especially Auckland's representative, a really good go. This may or may not be the east*, but she certainly gave us a good run last. year. The question of finance, whiJe not a pleasant one. is' a very necessary matter, and one which has already given the Association some thought. In the past, the affiliated clubs have done their part, with one exception, really well, and no doubt they are to be relied on this year. An idea was brought forward at Tuesday's meeting of the Associaiton by the vice-chairman, Mr. C. H. Palmer, to hold three picture nights' at the Strand Theatre, which has been generously of-

fered for the occasion, by Mr. Phil Haywaxd. A special yachting programme will be shown, and no doubt this means of raising the necessary funds to pay the expenses of boat and crew, will meet with the generous support of Auckland yachting men. That boating men do appreciate the efforts of the Anniversary Regatta Committee to provide a good day's sport on January 29 and liberal prize money has been clearly proved by the record entries received this year. The idea of receiving entries during the day proved popular, well over 100 coming in between noon and 2 p.m. on Wednesday, and another 130 at night. When post entries and those for visiting launches are added, the total*will not be far short of 250 craft, truly a record number, and one of which we may be proud. The proportion of sailing craft to motor boats is about three white wings to one power-driven. The largest field is in the 18-foot V class, which totals 18. Good fields are the rule in all the small boat classes. Quite a lot has been heard of the big field of speedy launches which will be seen in the open speed championship. Compared with former -—a the actual entries, which in , . are good, although we shall . leetwing, Jun., and Miss Devonport. The two entries expected from Wanganui have materialised, and Miss Virginia (ex-Pussyfoot), carrying a 220 h.p. Hispano-Suiza engine, should cause some thrills to the public, if not to her crew. The other entrants for the open speed championship are Kotuku. a speedy 26-footer, from Wanganui, which competed last year; Miss X.. a 22----footer, only launched last week, driven by a 90 h.p. Curtiss. This boat is a true V-bottom, designed by Hacker. Baby Dcv is 19ft. and is driven by a 90 .h.p. Curtiss. Miss Cheltenham (e^-Firefly) is ISft, and is driven by a (i-cylinder Studebaker. Xurmi is 20ft 0 «in, and carries a 120 h.p. Hall Scott. Xgaro is a 10ft hydroplane of tho Miss Margaret type. Wee Bell is also a 16-footer, driven by a9O h.p. Curtiss. Hobo is another boat of the Miss Margaret type, with a 6-cylinder Buick installed. Spot, a 20-footer, is the latest addition to the fleet, her power plant being a 6-cylinder Buick. The course is six rounds of four miles each, so that reliability more than actual speed may count most in a 24-mile test. Allowing for 50 per cent of failures—a high proportion to be sure—

there should be five or six boats which j will complete the race at speeds ranging from 20 to 45 knots. This race will certainly be one of the chief attractions ou the day to many patrons, and we congratulate the Committee on the result. Fast cruisers, a very useful and sound type of boat to encourage, have not been I given quite enough consideration, only j one race being open to them apart from | the speed races. Next year this class may be better catered for. Taken altogether, almost every class has received fair consideration, as the numerous entries prove. With good weather, I next Friday's aquatic function should be the best yet held on the sparkling waters of the Waitemata. Mr. A. H. Court's cruiser Ruamano, in which a party of six are circumnavigating the three islands of New Zea- j land, has reached the Sounds on the West Coast. Her next port of call will be Invercargill, where she is expected to i be next Week. We understand that j this is the first occasion when :, pleasure craft has been round New Zealand, not ! even the North Island having been sailed I round completely. Wanderer, ex-Colma, has sailed from Kaipara to Auckland, via the North. From here she sailed to Wellington down the East Coast, and has lately sailed back' to this city from Wellington. Ruamano's cruise puts all \ '. other trips by pleasure craft a long way j astern of her, and yachting men gene- j rally wish the boat and her plucky crew ' the best of luck. • Quite one of the best cruises made by ! a small sailing boat during the holidays j was that of the 18-footer Solace, owned and sailed by H. Bach, jun., of Bayswater. i Solace, which was built by Miller Bros.. I of Dunedin, for Dr. Chesson. now of j Northcote, is a very big-bodied craft, and the gallant doctor and his wife have ! made many long cruises in her. This I time Solace left Auckland at .5 p.m. on | Christmas Eve. and, without putting into i port, sailed right through to Whangaroa, | which was reached at 10 a.m. on Sunday. On the way back calls were made at Russell. Whangaruru, and Whangarei town wharf. Next Saturday the Victoria Club will hold "a cruising race to Surfdale. This is a general handicap for the Surfdale Shield, now held by Forest Gold. The Point Chevalier Club will hold , their regatta which was postponed fromDecember 12 to-morrow.