AQUATICS.

Auckland Star, Volume LVII, Issue 276, 20 November 1926, Page 27

AQUATICS.

fßv- SPEEDWELL. \

Great preparations have been made all the week by yacht and motor boat owners for the opening of the season, and with fine weather, which looks a? if it would continue, the display would be really fins. There are Still a number of boat's not in commission, and the entries ail round on opening day are never so g-ood as later on in the season. Keen disappointment was felt in boating circles when the fact was made known that Avaioa would not be racing tijis season, or at all events not at present. Her owner, Mr. F. Ooke. has been transferred to Dannevirke, in the Hawke's Bar province, and as the Patrick brothers have their own yacht co race. Avalon will not go down. Tfl* quite spoils the trials for _the =ander= Cup and practically mases taem anneeessarv. Kona being the oniy ooa-t left now Lhat both Avaion and _ Queen March are not going off. This will »'•*? make the races for the class in cliro »ven:s much less interesting and quite spoilt the opening day race. There : = us; a possibility of Mr. Cloke S orders iri-nz chanced later, on: if not Aya.on may"be placed at the disposal of to? HaVke'i Bay Club, and th's would.be quite in order. No loubt Mr. Gillies and the crew of Konini would i:*e to trr their skill in such a top-notcrnr !," Avaion. But, we still hop* tJat matters may be so adjusted that Avaion and Kona will still be able to compete for the honour of repressing Auckland in the nest contest, even if t'ae triare have to be postponed for a week or two. The Russell Regatta Committee have drawn up a full "programme for their annual regatta, which will take place on Thursday. December 30. Consideraole interest, centres in the outboard motor championships. This year the boats will be divided into two classes. _ A clase will be a straight-out championship open to all comers, while B will be restricted to engines of 20 cubic men capacity. The usual ccean race from Auckland to Russell will take place, leaving town on Christmas Eve. An excursion will be run to the bay, leaving town on Wednesday evening. The following races have been decided on for the Victoria Ciub"s fixtures:— November 20, opening day. ail classes, December 4. cruising race to Omiha Bay; December IS. races, all classes: February 5. cruising race to Surfdale; February 12, club regatta: March 5. cruising" race to Islington Bay. harbour races in conjunction with Northcote regatta: April 23, final cruise; April ZO. cup day. It is early to speak of r&gattas. but we are reminded by Mr. Tom Weir, ot Gonne-ll's Bay, Waiheke. that the Waiheke Regatta will be held a= usua! at Cowe? Bay on Saturday, January 1 Races for all classes of yachts and launches will be included in the programme, also out-cnjard motor dinghj races and other side shows. No doubi the majority of the boats will be awaj cruising at this time of the year, btr Waiheke Passage is so popular wit} yachtsmen that many of them make ■< point of arranging their holiday cmisi to aliow of the last day or two to b spent there, the annual regatta being ai additional -rtdncement. Considerable discussion has takei place in Dunedin yachting circles ove: the method of shoosicg the boat to repre sent Otago in the races for the Sander Cup. Hitherto a series of trial race were held, which were closely foUowec by judges specially told off for this duty These gentlemen formed their own judg ment and made their dee.sion as to whid boat they considered the right one t< carry Otago's hopes, known to the Yaeh and Motor Boat Association, which ii turn adopted the boat named. Thi decision was not based on any syrten of points so far as can be jndged, am this is what has given rise to som trouble, one well-known skipper going s* far as to declare that he would not ente his boat for the trials this season ttnles the points system of selection wa adopted. Without attempting to follot the reason for this decision, except tha we know the boat chosen last year i: Dnnedin was not tee one with the high est number of points to her credit if sue had been allotted for each trial, yet th objector must have had the sympath; of a large number of boating men wh ■were possibly influenced in their judg ment by the poor showing of the boa chosen in the actual contest this year. Th outcome has been a decision by th Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Associatio to adopt the points system in the triJ races this season to decide the reprt sentative boat. At the last meeting of the Otag J Association it was decided to send I formal challenge for the Sanders Cup t Lyttelton. Mr. Darya suggested tha the trials should commence early. Th sooner they were over and the boa selected the better, he said, as it won! give the crew more time to tune tl boat up. It was finally decided to ho! six trial races, the first to take place o Saturday. November 6, and be continue each Saturday until December 11. The: was further discussion over the conn to be >ai!ed_ Mr. Davya maintained tha the Ravensboume course was the be? Other delegates considered that rac« should be sailed over each club course i turn. It was pointed out that some < the courses were subjected to flak winds. Other speakers, including ti new chairman, Mr. J. T. Paul, thong-* all races should be held over a course < courses specially laid down for the pu: pose, and it was nallay decided 1 request the Harbour Board to lay off tw courses, a windward and seaward and j triangular course, similar to those use I in the last cos test, such courses to \

used for all trials. Messrs. Davys, Anderson and Ca-r.r , were ar>>inTed judges, the starv.rs: .."? and ether s"''3 matters to be left in their rands. The races will itart st 3 p :::. each ci~. A time limit of thr?e hours " i* ir.ace, all races to t-e >a-.'ed under -r.-? Y.R.A. rules. The actual r.ur..';-tr d r-":r."-5 to be t.-> the placed Hats wa< left for decision ur.t:! r.t-xt meef.r.g.