YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 170, 20 July 1928, Page 12

YACHTING.

3000 MILE CRUISE. AUCKLAND TO THURSDAY ISLAND. VOYAGK IN 3.1-FOOT YAWL. (By L. FIDE.) After a few weeks' preparation, Hoy Tange and myself set sail at 9 a.m. on Saturday. September 3. 1027, bound for Qurensliind and New (iuinea in the 35foot yawl lona. Leaving the beautiful Waitcmata astern we wondered how many months, or even years, would elapse before wc again beat up to an anchorage there. Owing to the light breeze we only made Arklc's Bay °by sunset. Away at daybreak with half a gale blowing from the north-east. Wo anchored in Mansion House Bay, Kawau. at 4 p.m. Spent a pleasant three days in port waiting for the gale to subside, and on the 7th set out for Whangarei Heads, where we anchored for the night. Away again next morning to Russell, where we stayed for two days. Put two tucks down on Sunday morning, the 11th, and stood north to the Cavalli Islands, where we dropped the pick in a snug land-locked bay. Yawl Grounds at the Cavallia. Next morning a tierce westerly gnle sprang up, and owing to the lightness of the ship through being unballasted, she started dragging ashore. We put out the spare anchor without avail, for the heavy squall drove us ashore. Luckily we grounded on a small sandy beach-between two reefs, where the severe pounding caused us considerable anxiety. However, as the tide recedod we joined thr halyards and placed the light kedgc anchor a couple of hundred yards off shore. At sundown the wind droppel, and the incoming tide floated us off without trouble. Being full moon we worked late taking gravel ballast aboard, retiring to bunk at midnight. Set all sail next morning, and after a pleasant day's run arrived in Mangonui at 0 p.m. During our two-days' stay here we were delighted with the hospitality of the residents. Left port at 6 a.m. intending to run up the coast to the North Cape and then head for Norfolk Island, 414 miles to the nor'-west. However, a heavy north-east gale arose, and realising that progress would be slow, wc ran into Whatuwhiwhi Bay, 20 miles from Mangonui. No sooner anchored than Mr. Roberts, the schoolmaster, and only white man for miles around, rowed out to us and invited us ashore. We stayed at anchor here five days, during which time the gale blew itself out.

On Wednesday, 21ft, we set sail, and with a very light breeze from the nor*west we reached Cape Kara Kara at 10 a.m., where we experienced a flat calm for a couple of hours, after which a light but freshening breeze sprang up from the north-east. Managed to lay a course to within a few miles of the North Cape, when the wind veered round and blew hard from Norfolk Island right in our teeth. We headed north, and by midnight a howling gale was raging, into which wo punched with only the mizzen and headsails set. We battled on for a week, the boat riding splendidly over the huge seas which rolled endlessly towards us. Then came a night when, after a lull, the wind went right round to th® south and blew twice-as hard, causing an immense sea which every moment threatened to swamp us. We furled, the mizzen and jib, nearly getting washed overboard whilst doing so and double-reefed the staysail. Under Reefed Staysail. Thus we lay, hove-to, whilst the southerly buster vented its wrath on us. We were almost blinded by the leaping spray which was dashed from wave to wave. All next day we lay helpless, being tossed about like a cork amidst the tumbling seas until sunset, when the gale, having reached its climax, gradually eased up. Next morning we hoisted the mizzen and head sails, and in spite of the big sea Roy took a bearing and found we were three hundred miles to the east of Norfolk Island, four hundred miles from the North Cape, and seven hundred from New Caledonia. Instead of beating over to Norfolk Island, we decided on the alternative of running free to the twenty-third parallel of latitude, and thence to Australia. Realising that we would pass close to New Caledonia, we kept a constant vigil when nearing the island. We sighted the aouthern extremity at sunset on the 23rd of October, but instead of coasting to Noumea, we decided to keep along the parallel of latitude until we reached Queensland. Overboard and a Narrow Escape. One sweltering day, when about 500 miles from land, with the boat lifting and falling on the long south-east swell and seemingly becalmed, I decided to have a dip in an endeavour to refresh myself. As the ship was merely drifting I didn't trouble to awaken Roy, whose watch it was below. I went for'ard, dived overboard, and on reaching tlx; surface found to my consternation that the ship was drifting merrily away froiu me. Realising the futility of shouting, I struck out in what seemed a vain endeavour to reach safety. After sailing a good two hundred yards the boat luffed up into the faint zephyrs, and this enabled me to reach her and grasp the bulwark. With my remaining breath I shouted to Roy, who after a struggle dragged me aboard. Needless to state, I remained on deck the rest of the voyage. First Sight of Queensland Coaat. At midday on Sunday, October 9, Roy asserted that we would sight land ar, midnight if the wind held good, and sure enough, 30 minutes a.m. we saw the barren coast loom up ahead. We sailed up the coast till daybreak, when we found an ideal land-locked bay near Cape Townsend, in which we dropped the pick at « a.m. The bright, clear tropical air was filled with the songs of countless gorgeously-coloured birds, whilst a huge pelican strutted haughtily along the beach. Being A beautiful morning we rowed the hundred yards ashore amidst the numerous slioals of fish, taking the pearifle and a sheath-knife. We strolled along the glistening white sand a distance of five miles, discovering en route two stranded turtles, coconuts, sponges, etc., and sighting some quaint species of bird life. Thousands of soldier crabs clattered noisily along the damp sand, t)u!Sf and many other strange sights nuking pur first day in Australia a nwpipatye one. fee concluded next Friday.)

NEW BRITISH CUTTER WINS FIRST RACE. Tlie fii st race for the big cutters of 23 metres, which includes the largest type of racing boats in Englaud, was held on June »th, at Harwiek. There was a hard breeze, which kept two boats at anchor. The new Fife-designed Marconi rigged cutter Cambria, just built for Sir William Berry, won her maiden race after a close go with His Majesty's old ship, Britannia, and Sir Thoma ß Lipton's Shamrock. All British yacht? when racing first sepd up their private racing nag, which is not hauled down until the race is finished. In this race, Britannia new the King's colours, red, white and blue, Cambria dark blue with white ball, and Shamrock the familiar green shamrock on a gold ground. Cambria finished only 1 min. 30secs. ahead of Britannia, which beat Shamrock by lmin. 56sees. Cambria is 75 feet on the waterline, her mast being 125 feet from deck to truck, and she is Bermudian rigged, her two opponents having the regular gaff mainsail. In the next race Shamrock won, with White Heather second, Britannia third, and Cambria fourth. English files show that the yacht and boat-building yards, both in" England and on the Clyde, are remarkably busy this season, on orders for new yachts. Two new first-class racers have been built and a number of smaller ones. The demand for large cruising craft has been a record for many years. A 500 ton auxiliary three-masted schooner, a 300-ton schooner, a 300-ton motor yacht, and another of 225 tons, have been launched recently, together with many boats under 100 tons. Little interest is taken by British yachtsmen in the sailing events at the

MODEL YACHT CLUBS. If the present enthusiasm shown by the youths who live near the Orakei Basin is any guide, there should be a very successful model yacht club in existence next season. Some fine new models are now being made, and with last season's boats they will ensure plenty of competition. Members will be drawn from all parts of lower Remuera and as far as St. Helier's Bay. A large model owned by a resident of St. Helier's, which was a very fine piece of work, got right away from her young owner lately, and has not l>een seen since. A very live club exists at Stanley Bay, while some of the younger members of the Takapuna Boating Club also have model yachts. Some years ago the boys around Shelly Beach, Ponsonby, held several keen competitions, and Mahurangi Heads still has a club, which holds races frequently in the season. There is nothing better than encouraging an interest in model yachts amongst the youngsters to help make the crews of our 14-footers and our future yachtsmen. The eleventh annual prize night and social of the Point Chevalier Sailing Club will be held next Wednesday evening in the clubhouse, Joan Street.. This club held no less than 17 races during the season, and the prize list includes eight cups and many other valuable trophies, which will be distributed to the lucky winners by the president, Mr. M. J. Coyle. THE SQUADRON PLAYS GOLF. The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron includes a fair proportion of golf players in its membership, and last week-end a team met another team from tho Junior Club. The latter club won eight games to the Squadron's seven at two-ball matches, but playing fours the yachtsmen won five games against tho Juniors' two. Tiie day's outing was so much enjoyed that it was decided to make the match an annual one. Mr. J. W. Frater, Commodore, has presented a cup to be Jield by the winning team. A match has also been arranged between the crews of Waitangi and Ilex.

Olympic contest next month at Amsterdam. Only one application was received by the committeee of the Y.R.A. for the eight-metre class, and none in the sixmetre class. Mr. Gaydon, of the Royal Burnham Yacht Club, was selected as the British representative for the Olympic dinghy race where competitors sail a 14-fo6ter single-handed. An effort will be made to send a representative six-metre boat to compete.

DUKE OP YORK'S GOLD CUP.

The motor boat races for the Duke of York's gold cup commence at Southampton on August 4. Last year this trophy was won by the American representative, and a fast team will again represent the United States at the contest. Three new British boats have been built, and great hopes are held of regaining the prize this year. The racing is confined to small boats, officially known as the li-litre class. Miss Carstairs won the race in 1926 with Newg, but was beaten last year. She is again to the fore with a new boat. The Duchess of York has also taken an interest in boating, having presented a cup for outboard motorboats. It will be the recognised championship for Class C engines. The first race was to have been held last Saturday at Hendon.

A STANDARDISED MOTOR BOAT

The pleasure of having a motor boat built to original ideas of the owner comes very seldom, and it is usually an expensive matter to build, for no two plans are ever quite alike. That there is a demand for a standardised type of hull ! is the belief of Mr. M. W. Lane of the Lane Motor Boat Company, King's Drive, and he has recently completed a 32-foot launch with several good features. This boat, a stern view of which is shown here, has 9ft beam, and is fitted with a 30-35 h.p. 4-cvlinder engine; She has a cockpit 10ft long. Next is the main cabin, I Bft, equipped with two berths; for'ard again is the engine, over which is built the bridge deck, with a bunk at each side, also a rope locker right for'ard. Over ! the engine is a small raised deckhouse with glass sides, where the controls are situated, making her a one-man boat. With only minor modification of the plan to the extent of carrying the decking further aft, the cabin can be increased by 5 or 6 feet, leaving a 4 or 5 foot cockpit, which would make her into a good family cruising boat. The big cockpit, covered with a permanent or removable top, would make her an ideal day boat for carrying a large party to one of our many beach resorts. Used as she now is, the boat would be very suitable for a farmer or fisherman, the roomy cogkpit accommodating a load of produce or fish. The hull has pleasing tyies, with a marked flare In the sections, making for a dry boat, while her generous beam would ensure steadiness in a seaway. A mast with a signal yard (the latter much too low down the mast for appearance >mke), completes the outfit, and any who are interested are sure of a courteous I reception and an invitation to view the boat at her builder's yard.

CLUB NOTES. Showing the interest taken by the boys in the 12ft 6in Z class boats, which the Manukau Yacht Club bought and placed at the disposal of the younger members, all prizes won by them for the season have been handed back to the club to help pay for the boats. This is a really sporting action on the boys' part, and the officers and committee keenly appreciate it. The Manukau Cruising Club, in common with most of our aquatic bodies, has passed a resolution approving of the retention of the Daylight Saving Bill. Nga Toa, which is hauled out at the back of Stanley Point, near her builder's yard is having several hundredweight of lead added to her keel by C. Wild. This should improve her in a fresh breeze, and make her a better all-round % boat when racing. The only clubs which have not yet fixed their dates for the annual prize night are the Akarana and Takapuna. The committees of both are hard at work at their club's amusement stands in the Winter Show. Cos. Hoverd, the popular secretary of the Takapuna Club, who had such a strenuous time auring the Cornwell Cup contest, lias decided not to seek re-election next season. The equally popular secretary of the Akarana, George Laycock, may be persuaded to carry on the good" work again.

COMING EVENTS

July 25 —Point Chevalier Sailing Club's Prize Night. August 3 —Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron's Prize Niglit. August B—Manukau8 —Manukau Cruising Club's Annual Meeting. August 9 —-Punsonby Cruising Club's Prize Night. August 11—Manukau Yacht Club's Prize Night. August 15—Devonport Yacht Club's Prize Night. September 4—Tamaki Yacht Club's Prize