YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 37, 13 February 1931, Page 13

YACHTING.

THE SANDERS CUP. eleventh annual contest. COMMENCES TUESDAY AT DUNEDIN. TO-MORROW'S RACING FIXTURES. (By W. A. WILKINSON.) The eleventh annual contest for the Sanders Cup will commence next Tuesday at Dunedin. Five provinces are taking part, Auckland being represented by Aval on, Wellington by Betty, Canterbury by Colleen, Otago by Eileen, and Southland b~ Rona. All five boats havej competed previously. Avalon has contested no less than five times, winning at Akaroa in 1929. In the 1927 contest represented Hawke's Bay. Eileen, holder of the cup, has also sailed in five contests, with one win to her credit, gar" 1 ~t year at Auckland. Bc iJ — now Wellington's representative, has competed in three contests, at Dunedin in 1926, at Lyttelton in 1927, and Stewart Island in 1928, winning <"11 three. Colleen has competed on two previous occasions, at Akaroa in 1929 and Auckland in 1930. Rona has represented Auckland three times, •winning twice and losing to Betty at Lyttelton in 1927. She was sold last year to Stewart Island and will now compete against old opponents, carrying the most southerly province's letter on her mainsail. • All the boats arrived safely at Dunedin and the crews are expected tomorrow. The contest promises to be very keen, especially between Avalon, Betty and Rona, with Eileen and Colleen ready to fill any breach which these three boats may leave. Wellington is very hopeful of winning, and it is certainly overdue. The only time the contest has been held at Wellington was in 1924, w>"n Rona won. The Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association has taken charge of the boats on arrival and each one is reported to be in first-class order. Dunedin can" be relied on to entertain the crews right royally, their first function being a civic reception at the Town Hall on Monday night. The Dominion conference will follow, when the racing officiate are appointed, times of starting, method of, deciding contest, whether winners only sail after the first three races or all five boats, time limit and 'other matters, which are all controlled by the delegates. Several remits for future contests will also be discussed including limiting the age of crews to 21, and the formation of a central authority to control all championship events for the Dominion. The Auckland crew, D. Rogers (skipper), W. Tupp, A.- H. Larritt, M. Jones and R. Andrews, together • with Mr. Frank Cloke, and one or two enthusiasts, left last evening. They will aron Saturday afternoon, together with the Wellington crew and delegates. Southland and Canterbury crews are already' at Dunedin and no doubt will be out for a trial to-morrow. Avalon and her crew carry the best wishes of all boating men for their success. Although the youngest crew, they have all had plenty of experience in small boats. The contest will be made doubly interesting from the fact that Auckland is the only centre to Bend a full crew, under 21. Brassell, the Canterbury skipper, is under 21, but not the crew. Rona will be sailed by V. Bragg, while Eileen's skipper may be a young man or the veteran Bill McCuHough. George Kellett, who won the cup last year with Eileen, has definitely retired. The Wellington skipper, R. Johnson, is a veteran and the capital city puts grea,t faith in their combination of skipper and boat. They will be hard to beat certainly and the result on Tuesday afternoon will be awaited with interest. The record of the contest to date is as follows: — ,■ Tear. Boat. Province. Where Held. 1921 Heather Otago Auckland 3022 Desert Gold Auckland Dunedin 1923 Rona Auckland Auckland 1921 Rona Auckland Wellington 1925 lona Otago" Auckland 1926 Betty Canterb'y Dunedin 1927 Betty Canterb'y Lyttelton 1928 Betty Canterb'y . Stewart Is. 1929 Avalon Auckland Akaroa 1930 Eileen Otago Auckland VICTORIA CLUB'S REGATTA. The Victoria Cruising Club is holding the annual regatta to-moiTow afternoon when all classes will compete over the new courses, starting anfr finishing off the Western wall. The 'first race, for motor boats, starts at 2.30 p.m. .The others following at intervals of ten minutes. ' : - The entries and handicaps are as follows: — ■\1 •, . ' ■ Motor boats, to start at .2.30 p.m.— Course: From starting 'line thence round Sandspit beacon, thence round Resolution buoy, finishing at starting line. All marks must be passed on starboard hand.^ —Dione, scr; Togo, 10m 30s; Areta, 11m 80s; Yvonne, Namoi, 12rn; Marua, 13m 30s; Morveen, 19m 30s; Young Zealandia, 27m 30s; Rangi, 32m 30s. _ H Class, to start at-2.40 p.m.—Course: From starting line round Resolution _buoy on port hand, thence round White Light buoy on starboard hand, back round Resolution buoy on starboard hand, thence round black buoy off Birkenhead on starboard, finishing at starting line —Starloch,, scr; Starlight, lm; Omatere, 3m;' Spray, 4m; Awatere, sm; Why Not, Bm. L and N Classes, to start at 2.50 P; m -— Course: Same as that for class _H —Marie, scr: Mowal, 6m; Otira, 7m; Waive re, '8m; Malua, 11m ; Matarik4, 12m ; Wairangi, 15m. V Class, to start at 3 p.m:—Course: From strating line off reclamation, thence to mark off Birkenhead wharf, thence to mark off Watchman, back to starting line, twice round; all marks to be passed on port hand. In the event of the course being reversed marks must be passed on starboard. A white flag will indicate Birkenhead mark first and a black flag Watchman mark first —Surprise, scr; Avro, sm; Wild Wave, 6m 30s; Belle, 8m; Leveret, 9m 30s; Rita, 11m. S Class, to start at 3.10 p.m.—Course: Same as that for class V—Sceptre, scr; Jtangitikei. Bungaree, 4m; Ben Bolt, 12m. 30s; Swiftsnre. 14m BOs. T, X and Y Classes, to start at 3.20 p.m. Course: Same as that for Class V—Lois, sf.r; Svbila, 3m 30s: Fay, 4m; Rangi, 6m 30s; Meteor, 8m: Oretl, 10m; Ola 111., 11m; Romance. 11m 30s Rita 11., 19m. The resall of the race for classes T, X and Y will be held in conjunction with Saturday's race for 14-footcrs. Following are the original entries and handicaps: Lois, scr; Svbila. 2m 30s: Fay. 3m 30s: Ranei. 8m; Meteor, 10m 30s: Sea Pixie, 11m: Romance. 14m: Rita 11., 20m. The officials in charge of the racing will be:—Starter, Mr. O. Johnson judge. Mr. 73. Oiffiths; timekeepers, Messrs. J. Malier, A. Perkin. PONSONBY CRUISING CLUB. A resail of the T, X and Y class will be held in conjunction with the Victoria Club's regatta to-morrow. This was necessitated by the removal of a mark in -the original race. The entries and handicaps are: Alerte, scr; Lois, scr; Joan, 24m; Fay, 3m; Sybila, 3m ; Rangi, 6m; Sea Dawn, 7m; Romance, 11m; Sea Pixie, 12m; Rita T, 20m.

MANUKAU CRUISING CLUB,

RACE TO CORNWALLIS. / The Manukau Cruising Club will hold a race to ' Cornwallis to-morrow for yachts and motor boats, starting on No. 2 course, yachts at 2.30 p.m., and motor boats at 3.30 p.m. Following are the entries and handicaps: — Yachts. —Sylvia, on wind, scr; off wind, 5m.; Drone, Myra, Bm, scr; Sea Horse, 7m, 9m (no extras) ; Lois, 9m, 3m ; Aoma, 10m, 3m (dingliy) ; Sea Gnome, 11m 6m; Daphne, 18m, 9m ; Nyria, 19m, 9m; Rahiri 11., 26m, loin; Sea Toiler, '31m, 18m; Wild Wave, Janet, 43m 20m; Almira, 49m 35m; Shirley, 55m, 40m (no extras). Motor Boats. —Miss Manukau, scr; Surprise, 17m ; Karma, 32Jm ; Rainbow, 40m ; Miss Millie, 43m; Regal, 44m; Hinemoa, 44$ m; Mermaid, Almora, 45m; Cremorne, 47m ; Lucinda, 57m; Grace, 80m. The officers of the day are:—Starter, Mr. J. Keegan; assistant starter, Mr. George Smith; time-keepers, at Cornwallis, Messrs. T. E. Smith and J. C. Sibbin.

NORTHCOTE AND BIRKENHEAD REGATTA.

At a meeting of the committee of the Northeote and Birkenhead Regatta, it was decided to hold their annual function on Saturday, March 7. The Mayor of Northeote, Mr. A. E. Gree'nslade, presided and made complimentary reference to the work of the last year's committee. The hon. treasurer, Mr. N. J. Campbell, reported a credit balance in bank of £80 11/. The following officers were elected, — Patron, Captain H. H. Sergeant; vicepatrons, Sir James Guhson and Mr. C. E. Campbell;' president, Mr. George R. Hutchinson; committee, Messrs. A. V. Tyer (chairman), N.' J. Campbell, Arthur Clare, Allan Clark, H. Hayman, R. Hayman, F. Dickson, J. Dickson, Thos. Boyd, A. Couldrey, H. Mills, 0. Peace, John Couldrey, 11. Taylor, B. Reed, B. Mayall, E. Fowler, and Nelson Culpan. Mr. H. W. Coixldrey was elected hon. secretary and treasurer. Regret was expressed that Mr. Noel J. Campbell could not again accept the office .of secretary and treasurer. The appreciation of the yachting community for his services for the past eight years was recorded by resolution. Mr.- A. V. Tyer do'nated a very fine model yacht, to be disposed of for the benefit, of the regatta funds. The gift was gratefully accepted, and a vote of thanks accorded the donor. OTAHUHU SAILING CLUB. v ; The Otahuhu Sailing Club will hold a race to-morrow over three rounds of the usual course, starting off Seaside Park at 3 o'clock. The entries are: Waitia, Marie, Caprice, Tui, Ventura, Omaki, Spindrift, Kakamai, Phillis H. and Ben Machree. DEVONPORT YACHT CLUB. The Devonport Yacht Club will • hold their regatta on Saturday, February 21. This year all events will be open to all comers, except the keel yachte, which compete for the Duder Cup. Cash prizes will be given in the H, L and N class, M class, V and S class, T, X and Y class, and Taurauga eeven-fqoters. Entrie.s close at the usual place next Wednesday. SPEED RECORD 51.98 M.P.H. For quite a long time in the annals of outboard boat racing the recent speed of 50.93 miles per hour was maintained. It was made at Hlinois by Ray Pregner last year, and all attempts to lower it failed until Chas. Harrison beat it by over a mile on the Medina River, Cowes, Isle- of Wight. The boat was named Non-Sequitur, and she was driven by an Elto Quad. Her, officially accepted speed was 51.98 miles per hour. The boat actually did 52.09, but although duly recorded, ,it was later disallowed, owing to the lack of a .standard type of silencer, provided for in championship record breaking. When this was filled the wonderful speed of 51.98. was achieved, and duly accepted. This sets a new standard for our local outboards. It is rumoured that Miss Akarana, fitted with a giant Seahorse motor, has already eclipsed -all local records. This is quite -unofficial, but she will shortly enter the lists at the Paiimure Basin and prove what she can do* I?OWER BOAT ASSOCIATION. ' On 1 Saturday, February 21, the New Zealand Power Boat Association will hold races for cruisers over a harboyx course, starting off the King's wharf and rounding the new compass dolphin. One event will be for the "My Girl" Cup, when all boats must be steered by a lady member. A race to one of the popular resorts will conclude the outing. This club has now attained its twentyfifth year, and the event will be celebrated by a week-end similar to the Squadron's popular function last week. OLD REGATTA INCIDENTS. Mr. Jack Gibbs writes as under: —"In reading an article by Mr. Wilkinson in the "Star,' 5 I notice he mentions a trading vessels race in which the competitors did not finish until the day after the regatta, I remember a similar incident at the regatta of 1909. I sailed the scow Vixen in that race. There were a number of starters, sixteen, if I remember correctly, among which were Vesper (Capt. Jimmy Biddick), Albatross (Capt. Robt. Clark, whose sons are now well known among our coasting captains of the present day) arid owned at that time by 'Mr. A. Braund, who, I notice, is chairman of the Regatta committee this year, and his brother James, Endeavour, (Capt; J. Quinn), Seagull (Capt.' E. McGurhey), Bee (Capt. C. Anderson, at present with James Smith and Co., Ltd.), Gannet (Capt. W. Burke), Hero (Capt. J. Nieuman). As the race was round Tiri Tiri it was started .at 8.30. It must/ have been a great sight from the shore to see' that fine fleet of vesels sailing down the harbour with all their . canvas set, including ringtails and watersails. The wind was very light:and flukey all the way to the island, but freshened a little as we hauled on a wind to beat home. About ten of the vessels were all together at this time. As the wind hauled a little off the shore, .I' decided to take the chance of weathering Rangitoto; Beacon, while the Vesper, Albatross, Endeavour and several others were working in under Whangaparaoa. The balance followed the Vixen, which gradually got away from the others. We only, failed by a few feet to weather the beacon; if we had managed to clear it we should have finished hours ahead of the others, as I could see them away down off the Wade. The wind ait this time started to drop, and before long it was a flat, calm. The Vesper, Albatross and Endeavour came right along under, the shore. Vesper finished between 8 and 9 o'clock,' and Albatross some time later, but we lay becalmed for the whole night just outside the beacon. At daybreak, a light air came out from the west, and we slowly crept up to the North Head. From there we could see the Endeavour lying at anchor, with the lieadsails down, close to the Clara Hargraves, the quarantine ship. Just before we

reached her, she got under way, and as a nice breeze came out from the south, the two vessels, had a great race to the finishing lnie, which Endeavour reached about half a length ahead of us, thus gaining third place, as we were both 011 the same handicap mark. The Regatta committee decided, as it was such a close finish, to give a fourth prize to the Vixen, a marble clock, presented by E. Porter and Co,, which I greatly treasure. During the whole of the morning and up to 2 o'clock in the afternoon the rest of the vessels were coming to the finishing mark. I have often wondered why the Regatta committee did not order the race to be resailed, as in those days all sailing events not finished by 7 p.m. were declared off. It might have been because none of the competitors protested. ' -V ••