YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LVIII, Issue 88, 14 April 1927, Page 14

YACHTING.

SANDERS CUP BOATS.

THE MEASUREMENT QUESTION,

LETTER FROM BETTY'S OWNER

DISTANCE? FOR EASTER CRUISJ-

FINAL RACING FIXTURES

(By,.SPEEDWELL.)

During the last Snider* lup contest at Lyttelton there was a lot of talk amongst supporters of the various boats as to one or more of the representatives not being true to type. As each competitor had a valid certificate, no notice was taken of the rumour bv officials. That three of the leading boats vary little, if at all, from the design laid down for this class, is proved by the close finishes. Except for the first race, which Hetty won bv ,'lni :J7> the other four only showed margins of ■Js, Ss. ISs and 1 m 3.">s respectively The superiority of Betty. as we pointed out in a resume of the contest, was easily accounted for by her admitted lightness, her extra tint polish, very good English sails and splendid handling. In conversation with Mr. (iconic G. Andrews, Betty's owner and builder, just after the final race. "Speedwell." was impressed with the fact that her skipper attributed her win:, to this lightness. At the same tilin Mr. Andrews said he was quite in favour of the boats being weighed and a minimum weight being fixed by the associa lion. Any boat under such'weight should be made f> comply bv adding wood to the inside. If a penalty of double such deficient weight were made, it would bo more effective. The question of a Dominion measurer mentioned by Mr. Andrews has got to be discussed." The only objection is one of cost. There is no doubt that the correct time to have a boat measured and certified to is when she is being built, alid this seems to point to the fact that local measurers must be relied on. Mr. Andrews then promised to let " Speedwell " have his views on the question of measurements generally, and his letter is very interesting. It would be a pity if anything were now done to in any wav mar the present class, which is the work of many years of experience by the provinces concerned. If a tightening up of one or two present factors will do good, let us do it by all means. SANDERS CUP BOATS AND THEIR MEASUREMENTS. (By CEO. 0. ANDREWS.) The discussion at the last Dominion Conference on the measurement of Sanders (up competitors shows that there is some dissatisfaction at the position we have reached, and a review of it and the possibilities of improving it is desirable. When the Dominion Conference decided to adopt a one-design class five years ago, it was expected that all boats would prove nearly equal in speed, but. so far. it must be admitted, this has not proved to be the case, and the conditions laid down for the building of the boats have failed in their object. The view that the builders have not supplied as close a copy of the Bona awas required is quite unfair to them, as they were supplied with moulds ami rather loosely-worded specifications, and asked to build to these and not to make replicas of the Ronn. Builders will agree that even if the present moulds are true to Bona an exact copy could not be made without the original being at hand to take measurements from, even then the weights would not be the same and the cost would be very great. The main point is whether the object aimed would be achieved if all hulls were shaped exactly alike; experiene shows that it would not; weight, skinfriction, sails and trim are greater factors in causing a difference in speed than i.; a slight difference in hull shape. An example is to hand of one Rona-type boat giving another over half a minute a mile regularly, the boats arc as similar in hull measurements as two by different builders are likely to he, so probably none of this difference in speed is due to shape of hull. It is therefore unlikely that more accuracy in hull measurements, even if practicable to attain, would improve the position much. The problem of measuring is a difficult one, and if badly handled will seriously menace the success of the pout est s. Tlv? recommendation that all boats be measured three months before the contest adds another complication, and will be the subject of much discussion. It is doubtful if the delegates forming the Dominion Council realised at the time what a difficult and expensive job it would be to measure the boats; to do it fairly the whole of the boat would have to be gone over, and elaborate mould? would be required. The conference made no provision for new specifications or instructions for the measurer, these would have to be provided before their recommendation could be carried out. The present specifications call for exact measurements while building, and every existing boat or new boat built would be thrown out if measured by these after leaving the moulds. It can hardly have been the conference's wish to make a rule which would throw out boats honestly complying with the conditions called for when built, and an allowance to cover the differences possible between building and measuring of both old and new boats must be made by someone. This will need to be available to possible builders before starting work so that the risk of the boat being thrown out may be considered. In estimating the amounts which one of these boats goes out of shape a few measurements showing the variation of keel curve amidships of the Betty are available. When in mould this curve was correct; before launching, quarterinch full; after sailing two months, halfinch full; after wintering (upside downi. correct; after last contest, three-eighths full. The beam amidships has in this time varied half an inch. Measurements of other bo'ats to hand suggest that these variations are usual. It being established that allowance must be made to cover all possible variations in shape when measuring three months before a contest, it is obvious that the boats would be just as accurate if measured only while building and subsequent variations ignored. Measuring a finished boat is a difficult, slow and inaccurate method, and it would require manr advantages to warrair* it being used" instead of the quick and accurate one of measuring while the moulds are still in place.

A single Dominion measurer, as recommended, is good in principle, and would prevent the possibility of ono provincial measurer passing boats or allowing fes> tur«s in them which others would peg-

demn. The necessity for one, however, could have been avoided by fuller specifications, covering points on which measurers might possibly differ.

A way of improving some province's chances with their old boats, and bridging somewhat the disparity in spec! between the faster and slower l>oats, is suggested. This is to weigh all the boats and bring all to a standard weight Infixing hardwood pieces near the centre of gravity of the hull. The chief reason for the Betty's success is her lightness, and the advantage of lightness might have been foreseen bv any student of yacht design. Future building may become a competition in light construction, which would mean clearer and weaker boats, built of inferior timber; the above plan would counteract this possibility. The only plan possible to obtain boats even enough in speed to leave the contest a matter of skill and seamanship alone is to go in for stock boats, all to be built by the same builder, to standard patterns, and under conditions to ensure likeness in model and timber. At least ten orders would be required. There would be no need for the highly-finished work that the present com pet it ion has produced, and a saving of about ">0 j, c r cent in cost should be (tossihlc. Existing boats would have to be ruled out of the contest, but would still be useful for trial and class racing. From the present weather signs, which are certainly good, the motor boat men will have the better time during the

Easter holidays, which commence this evening and extend until Monday and in some eases a day longer. The sailing division will leave in full force, but their driving power is rather a doubtful quantity at Kaster. usually too much or too little of it. and th'.s time it is on the light side. Mansion House Ray will he the objective of the majority from what we hear. The Rower Boat Association has arranged for their cruising race, postponed earlier in the season, to be held to Kawau. starting this celling off the King's wharf by mutual consent. For three years a regatta was held at Woolshcd Bay. Coromandcl harbour. on Easter Saturday, hut it has been dropped for the past two years. A number of boats of the Whangnrei Cruising Club are expected to make for Kawau on Friday as they have done for the past three years.

;*'«houph the majority <<f the l>oat«. which leave port to-night, will l>e travelling to familiar places anil none will venture very far away, yet the distance to he sailed before reaching some wellknown spot is seldom accurately known. To help skippers to estimate their speed and as a matter of general interest, the distances in nautical miles both north and South of Auckland are given. There are many places mentioned which will not he visited at Kaster, hut they will l>c found useful for future reference. Tliev are as follows: —

The Kind's wharf to North Head. 2in: Rangitoto l>oactin, jm; Brown's Inland

beacon. 6m: Islington Bay. 7m; Home Bav, Dim: Station Bay. K'jm; Matiatia, llt'm; Hakino. 12lm: Oneroa. 131 m: *>mv tangi lfim; Hook » Bay 21Jm: the_>«••»'«• 14m; Cigar Bock. East Taruakl Head. tin.: Bcachland* wharf. 11m: Maraetai wharf. 14m: moiifli of Wairoa. 1 Mili: Motuihi wharf. Sm: Cru«oc, l"m: Surtdalc, 12; m; Ostend. l-m; Bockv I-iy wharf, 14m: Awaroa Bay wharf, lfim; Orapiti wharf Ifliu: Lowes Bay. 21m; Man-o-War Bay. 22m; Ponui Pa— 2<»in: P.nthcV Island Passasre. 21 fin: Te Kuinc. Mm: ( oromandel. Mm; Thames. 41 m; Kopu wharf, 4 Jim: Buthes Passage to Te Knme. lljn:: Ruthe's Passage to roromandel. 14.'m; (oromandel to Cablwgc Bay, 1.11 m; tabbape Bay to the Caj«e. 13m; Coromandcl to Thames. 2.Vm: the Kind's whaif t<< Cape Colville. .'{'Mil.

The Kind's whatf to Rangitoto W-acon. .'•in; Ransitoto lira con to Tiii Passage. II'm; Tiri to (aime Rnck. f»]m: Cam* Bock to Rodney, 11m; King's wharf to Mansion lboisi- Bay. 27 m; Waiwct*. 24m: Mansion House to Mahman-i Heads. film: Mahurangi Heads to Warkworth. 7Jni; Man-ion House to Waiweia, Out: Mansion House to Omaha love, 11m: to Caiioe Bock. 6jm: to Matakana, .".Am; to Takatu Point, ">jm: to Rodney, lljm; Rodney to Sail Bock. 171 m: Sail Rock to Bream Head, 10m; Bream Head to Taiharuru Point. Sin; Taiharuru to Tutukaka. lijm; Tutnkaka to Klixabct.li Reef", film: Klizabctli Reefs to Wide Berths, tPm; Wide Ben lis to Home

Point. Tim; Home Point to Cape Bmtj OJm: Cape Bret J to Bui-tell. 14m; Gnp«l Brett t.. Mej. I-laml- I-'Jin: Step Uland JO WlwiipiKu. ]"uu: Whanjrarna Heads 10 Bay. 17111; Auckland lo Ku'»cll wharf. IJOm. K in;;"* v. )i.u ] i-> Wellington Head. Great Barrier, '^111: Kin::'* wharf I<y ( ;<pe ( <d\illc. : (ape < <!*]lle Wan:;.i para para. <.irat Barrier. I-'Uidj ( ;:pe (ohille to Tiyphena. 11m; t ap# (•ilvlllo t<» Merruiy Mand. 'Sim: ( ap» <'~i\ille to Old Mail Rock. Uiri: an 10 Slipj»er 1-land. Jim: Slipper Inland to The Mount. r.}m: Auckland to Tauran;:a. Ulni. 7he time of liizh water f..r the four day* ;ii e: <,<•...] Friday .*• a 0.2® p.ni.: Sat unlay <• 5-' a m.. 7'.' J'.m.: SnTlda v 7.1« i a.m.. 7.40 p l-.a-ter Monday 7,."t«i an., sJJ p.m. l ull nio"ii o<-<-urf. oa Kar-l<r Sunday. The Ji\tti.v> for tin- imiainder of th« —>a»oii are: Ea-ter Monday. Tftiat«2 Varlit ( luti'r- ii-paUa. .-fT K.■hin.flrama, .Sjit in day. April ilm-li water J] 4 a.m., p. 111.', combined i-lo»jn«; dav. all da>h-> J<'fl and o\ei ia«-e lo lr-hapt.oii Bay : Isi" ami under mcr harbour rour<<--. April -J" ( li 1 irh water .">.J9 a.m., 0.2 p.m. 1. Victoria ( ( InbV ha; Hour • rare*. B<«onMia Memorial ("up. Bar Cup, I ("asev ( up. etc. Saturday . April 30,, N.Z. Power Boat Asi-oriation's t-pw-d boat : race-. B <las*-e«. crui-ers and outboard' motor-. Salurdav. Mar 7 (hiph wat#r ! 11 .24 a.m.. 11..".J , i.m.l. Takapnna Boat-' in;r Club, all '■mall rla*<-r«. Soon after the final rare.-, many of th# smaller yarlit« will be otsmantW and 1 hauled up for the wimrr. The tide* l should l«e suitable 011 r-nnday. May 1, ! a.m.. r.."»S p.m. On rnc 10110-vrinj Sunday hip3i water occurs at noon. Th# ' I«e-i 1 ;de will Ik- on Wednesday, Mar ' at ;:,iu.