YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LIX, Issue 248, 19 October 1928, Page 16

YACHTING.

THE SEASON'S FIXTURES.

NEW PROPOSAL FOR OPENING DAY.

SANDERS CUP AT AKAROA

(Bv SPEEDWELL.)

Once more the annual demand for racing dates lias been met in a satisfactory manner by the delegates to the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, who met on Wednesday evening. Each club secured about the same number as last year, the Squadron and Power Boat Association heading the total with eight each; then came Victoria Club with six; Akarana, Ponsonby, Takapuna and Tamaki, with five each; Richmond and Devonport, with four each; and Point Chevalier, Milford and Birkenhead regattas, one each. These total no less than 53, and as there are only 22 events and Saturdays in the "normal racing season, added to which almost every club has received one day to itself for its club regatta, it will be seen that the task was no light one, and fixtures had to overlap a great deal. Recognising this fact, and meeting the occasion in a friendly spirit of give-and-take, matters were decided in less than two hours. Where it was necessary to clash, events were gone into carefully, and cruising or harbour races arranged so as to cause the least possible friction. Each delegate went home feeling that he had done the best for his club and the sport generally. In a few cases the nature of the fixture was known and stated at the meeting, but as a rule the question of whether a or harbour race is to be held on a certain date was left for the club alone to decide. The opening day is nearly a week earlier this year, which is just as well, as it gives an extra day. Nearly all clubs will take part. The starts will be mad? as usual from off the King's wharf, and the destination is to be Islington Bay, the classification, courses and starting times being the same as last year. A proposal came from the Takapuna Club to do away with the giving of prizes by each individual club on opening and closing day, in favour of a system whereby only one first prize would be won in each class instead of five or six firsts, often won by a boat which happened, to be lucky and had entered in a like number of clubs. The idea was that the association should accept all entries for these two races in place of the clubs, receive the fees and provide the necessary prizes. Something on these lines has been mooted once or twice, and while there are several difficulties to be met, they are not insuperable and are chiefly concerned with club finance. It was suggested that each boat pav an entry fee for opening day of * nine shillings. This would be collected by the association and would go towards the prize money. If the fees were not sufficient to ensure reasonably good prizes the clubs would then be called on to supplement the amount by a donation. As an example of how this system would work, let us take the 22-foot class. As a rule there sire at the most 18 boats racing in this class, spread over the five or six clubs catering for them. Paying nine shilling each, which is , arrived at by reckoning a boat would belong to and enter for at least three clubs (the entry fee being 3/), we have £8 2/. Dividing this into prizes valued at £5, £2 and £1 would be a fair thing. Where only ten or a lesser number of: entries were received, it might be neces-. sary to supplement the prize money, but it is a just rule that the class which has the largest entries is deserving of the biggest prizes, although this is not always recognised. Looking at the matter in another light, although clubs would lose the revenue from entrance fees, they would be relieved of the necessity of finding the prizes for some eight, ten or more classes, so that it cuts both ways. There is another matter of members of the crew being financial in the various clubs. This will be a stickler for some very exacting folk, a few of whom are found in each club, who are always ready to quote you a rule on this subject. Possibly for the day this might be taken as if the boats were not really racing in the club but under the association rules, and the various club rules on the matter of crew number who shall be financial can be enforced at each club's subsequent fixture. As we have said, there is something to be said on each side, and the association has done the right thing in referring it to the

clubs for their opinion. "Speedwell" certainly thinks that it should be given a trial for one season. If not possible to arrange everything to the satisfaction of the nine clubs concerned for opening day, then it certainly could be tried out for the closing day of this season. Considerable interest is being taken in the races for outboard motor craft to be held off Buckland's Beach on Monday next, Labour Day. The events will be run by the recently formed club styled the New Zealand Outboard Motor Bait Club. There will be four or five events, depending on time. The first event will start at 1 p.m. sharp. This will be a free-for-all without handicap to determine each boat's speed as a basis for the subsequent races. The course is laid off ® wharf to the northern end of t half - mfle st ™ight. As each H three miles, the noisv little S 3 WIU make 24 t"™, past the The BpeCtators a good show. ex G P Aelon°oiSg k have o Freak Z Cy^o^and Freak. Miss Arawa is one of the new boats which are expected to over 30 m.p.h. Given a fine day, there is sure to be a big attendance as the run is a pleasant one of 35 minutes by car over a good road and it is high water shortly before 1 p.m. Akaroa harbour has been selected by the Canterbury Sailing and Power Boat Association, as representing last year's winner of the Sanders Cup, for the scene of the next contest. Exception has been taken in some quarters to Akaroa harbour, chiefly on the ground that it would increase the cost of sending a boat away. Also on the distance from Lyttelton, the k winning port. It must be conceded that ■ the winner has the right to nominate the I BCC n® of the next contest, and "Speed- ■ well contends that the Canterbury ■ Association is quite within ita right* in ■ offering it to a nearby port. The .

i esidents of Akaroa, from the Mayor down, are all keen to have the races there and have promised to make all arrangements for the transport of boats and crew and their entertainment. A subcommittee of the Canterbury Association will pay a visit to Akaroa shortly and go into the matter with the local enthusiasts. In the meantime it was unanimously agreed to allow the contest to be held at Akaroa and it is pretty safe to say this is final. Those who know, say that the place is an ideal one for such a contest.

The Richmond Cruising Club will hold the first race this season. On Saturday week the boats which are then in commission will start off Ponsonby wharf at 3 p.m. finishing off Greenhithe wharf. If there are sufficient entries, races will be held for boats 20ft and under and over 20ft.

FROM THE MOTOR CAR TO THE MOTOR BOAT.

One of the big New York dailies devotes part of its space each day to answers received from six people who are selected at random from the street, and who are asked a question by a reporter of the paper. The questions cover a variety of topics and range all the way from whether the pies that mother used to bake are better than the present machine-made variety down to the burning question of Prohibition. As the folks questioned are taken at random from a busy section of New York the answers are supposed to reflect current opinion, and can be taken to be fairly representative of the publiej mind.

Recently the reporter stationed himself at a corner of Broadway and proceeded to stop six passers-by and ask them, "Would you rather own an automobile or a motor boat?" The first one questioned was a lawyer, with his office in Wool worth Building, He replied that an auto was his favourite, because it took him to the golf course, where he could play his favourite game.

The second person happened to be another lawyer, and he reported unqualifiedly for the motor boat. He also said, •'Anyone can have more pleasure in a motor boat."

The third person was a young ladv secretary. She said, "A motor boat. Everyone owns an automobile. I'd like to take my friends motor-boating." The next one questioned was also a woman, a matron, who selected the motor boat, but complained that her husband, stubborn man, insisted upon owning a car. The young business man next spoken to voted for the automobile, but felt called upon to explain that he was no swimmer and got seasick at the least provocation. He added that his wife wanted a motor boat.

The sixth one questioned was a policeman. He came out very strongly for the motor boat.

Summing up these answers, we find four out of six decidedly preferring the motor boat. One negative admitted that his wedded partner preferred a boat, and the other reply was from one who was not interested in car or boat apart from being a means of transport to the field of another sport. The above replies can be taken to represent a distinct indication of the awakening of boat-consciousness by the people of New York. The same thing must apply to other cities, and we should see much greater interest taken in water pursuits by citizens of Auckland. With so many standardised and stock motor boats now on the market in America the demand there for boats can readily be met. Many boatbuilding firms now turn out a number of stand" ard models during the slack season, which enables one to «buv a boat all ready for the water with little more effort than is expended on the purchase of a new car.

In time the same conditions on a small scale will apply here. It will be a great help to our sport to get more people interested in it. It makes no difference whether the newcomers start by buyin°an outboard boat or a real cruiser, for once they have got a taste of the water and our clean, healthy sport, they will stay in it. Few are ever satisfied with their first love for more than one or two seasons. No; they soon want a larger, faster and better boat. We have ample loom for twice as many boats as we now have. There will be plenty of room in St. Mary's boat harbour, provided the fees are not too stiff, and still more out in the Hauraki Gulf with more than fiftv miles of sheltered water.

SANDERS CUP CONTEST.

TO BE SAILED IX FEBRUARY.

CHRISTCHTTRCH. this day.

At a meeting of the executive of the Canterbury Sailing and Power Boat Association the date for the sailing of the Sanders Cup races -was axed at about the middle of February. Arrangements are to be finalised with Akaroa.

A. recommendation from a sub-committee that the race begin on a Thursday and not on a Saturday, as previously, was approved.

TAURANGA CLUB

(By Telegraph.—Own Correspondent.)

TAt RANGA, Thursday

There was a good attendance of members at the annual meeting of the Tauranga Xachi and Power Boat Club, over which Mr. B. Sladden presided. Before proceeding to business the meeting passed a. vote of condolence witli the relatives of the late Mr. C. Hartley, who at the time of his death was commodore of the club.

Offloers were elected as follows :—Patron, Mr. T. X. Bluck; commodore, Mr. A. J. Mirrielees; vice-commodore, Mr. B. Sladden ; rear-commodore, Mr. G. 'C. Maltby secretary and treasurer. Mr. L. Hardy; auditor, Mr. B. P. Andrews; management committee, four flag officers and Messrs. B. O'Neill, B. P. Andrews, L. Oliver, K. R. Randle, A. Stewart, and J. Neil.

WHANGAREI REGATTA CLUB.

WHAXGAREI, Thursday. As shown by the balance-sheet presented at the annual meeting last night, the Whanjjarei Harbour Regatta Club Is in a very satisfactory financial position. Despite the fact that an extra £23 had to be paid out, the association still had a credit balance of £30.

was decided to hold the usual regatta Onerahi on New Year's Day. w_ „ r el ® ct i° n of officers resulted :—Patron, ; P re sntent. Mr. H. Menzies; Murdorh - entS ' Messrs - A - O. Weir and f! ®f cr etary, Mr. C. D. Maloney; A. Wilkin Bpth ell. Messrs. W. elected tlvp , an< ? Hewin were resentatives RusseU re P re " Departmen ( t eC to e^ 0 a PP roach the Railway regatta 7 lwdk/'S, f service to the Lane instead ofVt 5 at Vinery reported that Btat *on. It was held on Decembe® 27 ea riif r tt ? ha WOuld f as the boats V„ -f than usual, taking part in ? orth >** ore to WhangareL It was Russell class in the ocean race ? dd a well as centreboard boats, alL**^ 8 If a race for keel boats at the ? ecommendation from the Bowine7wi.«M. A that the course Be ehahged towoMhSSS Hon at the finishing point was adopted