AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 138, 12 June 1926, Page 27

AQUATICS.

(By SPEEDWELL') j

Although no definite decision to form any special class of speed boats was arrived at by the members who attended the Power Boat Association's meeting last week, yet quite a lot of information was obtained which should help in coming to a decision. Men who have ; had the experience were unanimous ' in their choice of the 90 h.p. Curtiss engine (bore 4in, stroke 4in) as suitable for speed boats. Various.car jobs were also mentioned as having given fair service, but there is no doubt that the most satisfactory type is an engine designed especially for marine work. \ These engines, of whicbj there are a number on the market, are rather expensive compared with the job in question, and in all probability this will be the choice of the sub-committee set up at this meeting. The discussion on the merits of a step hydroplane against a displacement boat proved that opinions were not at all unanimous beyond tiie fact that the step boat was? acknowledged to be faster in smooth water. It was evident that the type of hull will call for more consideration than the power plant unless the suggestion to ; leave the size and type of hull quite unrestricted be adopted. This would i mean that owners could build any type | of hull which they thought best fitted I to the Curtiss. Other suggestions included a price limit of £300 on hull and engine, a minimum displacement to be found by weighing all boats, and a novel idea to restrict the quantity of | petrol used in a race. The need for a I rule to help classify cruising launches was also mentioned, and several members advocated as a basis for sach a limit of one horse-power to one foot of boat length. This idea met with considerable favour. It may be better than no rule at all, but it would require considerable adjustment for handicapping purposes, as so much depends on the construction of the boat, to say nothing of the power plant. We already have boats about 30ft long with a j

30' h.p. engine capable of 15 knots. Again, we have- other 30-footers with

equa l power which barely do eight knots. It is hardly possible to find a hard and fast rule which would suit all types of cruisers. After all, the most sensible] way is to choose the best man available as handicapper and stick to him. One good thing was decided on, and that was to make it obligatory on owners of cruising launches to carry the full outfit of gear laid down in the association's rule book. It was also decided to request the anniversary and other regatta committees to frame a rule ensuring that these requirements are carried in all races under their jurisdiction. Another rule which it is intended to enforce next seasor is the one requiring that a full definition of a boat's power plant be given at the commencement of a season, and at once amended if any alteration is made. The Masport Cup came in for some notice, the opinion being against the restriction requiring competitors to be fitted with a reverse gear. It was pointed out that a race could not lie termed a championship under such retrictions. A proposal was carried that the donors, Messrs. Mason and Porter, be asked if they would allow the clause relating to gear to be deleted. It is to; be hoped that a challenger will be! built—and sent to Wanganui next sea- j son with a reasonable chance of regain- j ing the cup. This will be an expensive' undertaking, no doubt, and it might be done by a small syndicate representing I the association. Already Messrs. Hat- j rick Bros., of Wanganui, the holders , of this cup, have decided to have a new defender built by Collings and Bell, but, j despite reports, the size of hull or what she is to be powered with is not decided. It was rumoured that a 50 mile boat j would be built. It would be good to see \ such speed on the Waitemata. We hope | it can be achieved. j Owners of boats now hauled out in Cox's Creek and the many little sheltered nooks from there down to St; Mary's Bay have had the misfortune to receive a visit from sneak-thieves, who have been right through the boats and have lifted quite a lot of valuable gear. ' The matter is now being investigated by the authorities. At the last meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association a letter from the Point Chevalier Sailing Club relating to a question of an unfinancial member being carried in a race was received. It wag agreed that a decision could only be based on their own club rules. A matter which occurred in the Manukau Cruisins. Club was also con- i

sidered. This- was a question of postponing a race for stress of weather, and the point was who had authority to do it? It was pointed out by the chairman that the rules gave the sailing committee or officers of the day power to postpone a race. It occasionally happens that the committee cannot be got together at short notice, and it falls to the lot of one or two practical men to decide the point. Having clone so, the decision must stand, and the club members must uphold their officers.

The prospect of another contest for tiie schooner America's famous cup has ' caused quite a flutter in yachting circles I in New York. When Sir Thomas Lipton j arrived there early in April Tie stated that at the required time he would put in a challenge for a race in 1927. So far the New York Yacht" Club, which is responsible for the defence of the bit of silverware which has already cost the popular Irish baronet over one million pounds in his four efforts to lift it, has not made any plans for its defence. It is now twelve years since the last challenger. Shamrock IV., was built, and the contest was fixed for August, 1914, but the world war caused it to be postponed. In 1920 the contest was h.eld, and the hopes of British and overseas yachtsmen were raised to concert pitch when the | cables flashed the news that Shamrock j had won both the first and second races. But we were all to be disappointed, for the Resolute won the next three and j retained the coveted "mug." Although j no move will be made by the New York , Yacht Club until such time as a definite challenge is received, yet the possibilities of a race and the size of the boats to take part, prospective owners and skippers of trial boats, and many other matters connected with the holding of a contest, are already being discussed. It is not generally known that a challenge can be sent nominating a much smaller boat than the 90-footerg usually associated with the cup races. The deed of gift allows for the acceptance i.-of a cutter-rigged challenger, with a minimum waterline length of 65ft and a maximum of 90ft. The maximum length is increased to 115 ft for a two-sticker. If 65-footers were nominated it is possible that four trial boats would be built in America. One, if not two, defenders, would be provided by the New York Yacht Club from the works of the i Herreshoff Company, the builders of all the cup defenders since 1893. Boston is expected to build a defender, while Commodore Harold Variderbilt, Wilmer Hanan and the Seawanaka Yacht Club are each possible ow.ne.rg of trial yachts. The contest is sure t6 create the usual keen interest in yachting circles, and latest reports from England point to a definite decision on, the part of Sir Thomas to. challenge with Shamrock V. We sincerely hope the adage about thert) being luck, in odd numbers will prove true. The well-known 26-footer Sadie (H. 1.) lately owned by Messrs. S. and R. Fraser, of Pa'rnell, has .been purchased by Mr. A. H. Pickmere, of Whangarei. She was launched from Judge's Bay on June 3rd, nsged and ballasted tind left for her new home at noon on Friday. Thevwind was about south-west and" Sadie made j good time nn to Takatu Point wbon the wind fell liEfht, but she was off Rodney at dark. The wind freshened later and a compass course was set for the Frenchman, which was passed a little after midnight. Anchor was dropped above Marsden Point at 2 a.m.. and the crew turned in. Next morning Sadie beat up to Onerahi in a liffht nor'-west breeze, which suddenly went • into the south and blew with sreat force. The yacht fairly flew up the last few miles of the river, and her new owners were well satisfied with her performance. The club house, opposite the Town wharf, was reached at noon. The misfortunes which attended the launch Koa and her crew on their attempt to reach Norfolk Island, ending in the boat bbeing totally wrecked in Twilight/ Bay, on the north-western coast, six miles south of Cane Maria, are now well-known. Mr. Harrison could not get the boat insured, and his loss is a heavy one. The Ponsonby Club is considering some method of showing their practical sympathy. We feel sure that other clubs, and yachtsmen generally, would heartily co-operate *in this matter. , The annual meeting of the Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club will be held in the' club house, Onehunga, on Monday next. Mr. H. A. Highet, rear commodore of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club, who is leaving the district, was farewelled on Monday by the club. Mr. P. F. Garter, commodore,' referred to Mr. Highet's keen'interest in all local yachting matters. He would always be remembered as the original designer and builder of the seven-footers, a class of midget sailing boats very popular with the boys at Tauranga, some 20 boats having been built under his supervision. The fame of the clas had extended to Whangarei and Wellington, and boats had been built there. A representative boat was sent from Tauranga to the Dunedin Exhibition, where it was generally admired, and was purchased by a local yachtsman. Since then seven plans had been sent by Mr. Highet to other Dunedin boating men who proposed to build to the class. No doubt Mr. Highet would start the class in the Hawke's Bay district, to which he was moving, and they wished him all success in his ! efforts to provide a cheap yet safe boat ! for the youngsters. Mr. Carter, on . behalf of the older members, presented | Mr. Highet with a case of pipes, and on! behalf of the juniors, with an enlarged photograph of the fleet of seven-footers | , racing at the Tauranga regatta. Jdajor j Mirrilees and Messrs. G. Maltby, C. Hartley and B. O'Neill also expressed I their appreciation of Mr. Highet's ser- j vices to the club, and to the spirit of boating generally, and joined in extending good wishes to Mr. Highet and his wife in their new sphere. Mr. Highet suitably acknowledged the gifts, and said he would never forget his happy | associations with the Tauranga club and . the young folk in particular. The bail tended to the Victoria Club by the patron, Mr. Ernest Davis, will be held next Wednesday in Scots' Hall. The dates of the annual prize nights so far decided are as follow: Richmond Club, Munro's Hall, June 22; Akarana Club, Masonic Hall, Belgium Street, June 30; Victoria Clud, Scots Hall, July 21; Point Chevalier Club, Clubhouse, July 24; Ponsonby Club, August 12; Devonport Club and Powerboat Association later in August. A meeting ot- the Tamaki Yacht Club was held on Tuesday, when a proposal to change the name to the Kohimaram» Yacht Club was discussed, but was nol agreed to. ___.. ___j « B -fit