YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXII, Issue 309, 31 December 1931, Page 11

YACHTING.

THE TAUPANGA RACE. GREAT INTEREST IN THE TEDDY. "DADDY" GIBBS' LIFE STORY. « REGATTA AT COWES BAY. (By SPEEDWELL.) The rjxce to Tauranga, in which 20 boats competed, was sailed under ideal weather conditions. A fair wind, light at first but gradually freshening to the finish, made for good times. Nga Toa completed the course first, as she did last year, crossing the line outside The Mount at 3.6 p.m., '■iW/s hours out, and one nour longer than in 1930. lorangi, which had to allow her rival 29m, finished SVfcni later, Nga Toa beating her over the last 20 miles of tlie course by this margin. The old Ida came to light and finished only 23m astern of lorangi. Waione and .Uadye Wikna had a good go all the way from Karevva, Waione finishing lm 25s to the good. Queenie, as usual, was well up with the big boats, while the new boat Ariel sailed well to be only 6Vsm later than (Queenie. Scout and Janet were the next to finish, one hour behind Ariel, followed by Naiad, iris and Teddy, all within 3h 40m of the Nga Toa. The light weather favoured the longtimeiii and they took all tne prizes, Naiuu, Ariel, Janet, Scout and (Queenie gaining them in this order. In recognition of the good entries for the keel elass (14 entered and 13 started)., tne Tauranga regatta committee increased the prize money for the second boat from £2 10/ to £3 10/ and £1 to £2 10/ for third, also adding £1 10/ fourth and £1 fifth prize. The centreboard boats also made a quick passage, Starloeh finishing at 5.6 p.m., with Uniatere (5m 25s later, then came Celox, Yaruna, Ngaru, Kakoa and Wairere, all home in 2n 40m lrom the leader. Again the limit boats scored, Ngaru ou the 3Vfch handicap was first, beating Varuna by Urn on corrected time. Kakoa finished 35m after Ngaru with Wairere, the only 20-I'ooter to make the trip, 51m behind Kakoa. The platings were: Ngaru 1, Varuna 2, Wairere 3, with Celox, Rakoa, Omatere and Starloeh in this order on corrected time. All finished within lh 42m of Starloeh, constituting another record for the race. P., M. and J. Smith, who won in Ngaru, had the bad Juck to lose their father, who passed away suddenly on Christmas night. The three sous left the yacht at Tauranga and returned at once to Auckland. ( The keel yacht race at th,e regatta on Saturday was divided into two "classes, A and 13 and C and E. There were fourteen boats in the two races, lorangi winning in her class, with Ida and Waione next. Scout, Janet and Iris took the three prizes in the C and E class, with only 3m between them on corrected times, and less than 7m between the eight boats. The centreboard class resulted in even better handicaps, Celox, on the 3m mark, making a dead-heat for first place with Wairere on the 11m mark. Again the committee showed their appreciation of the increased entries by adding £7 to the prize-money for the keel class, making A and B and C and E prizes equal. The weather throughout the trip down and during the boats' stay at Tauranga was first-class, the regatta being run in typical Tauranga sunshine, with light but steady sou'-west breezes all the time. All hands enjoyed their visit, and are determined not to miss it another year. Several crews of the visiting yachts were entertained by Mr. and Mrs. C. M. Clench at their homestead, Hairini. Mr. Clench has always taken a keen interest in the regatta, being the donor of the trophy for the centreboard yachts in the ocean race, also the trophy for the regatta day race for this class. He sailed the Starloeh in the regatta race and finished first. Mr. R. McCalluni, on behalf of the visitors and tne centreboard crews especially, thanked Mr. and Mrs. Clench for their hospitality. In the evening the yachtsmen were the guests of Mr. G. S. Butler, president of tlie regatta committee, at .the Tauranga Hotel, and he was heartily thanked for .his many kindnesses to the boys. On regatta night Mr. Geo. McKenzie and crew of lorangi entertained Mr. and Mrs. Clench, and thanked them on behalf of tlie keel yachts for their generous hospitality. RECEPTION TO TEDDY. Great interest was taken in the arrival of the Norwegian Tasnian Cup winner leddy, which only arrived from Nukualofa nve hours before the start of the race, but by the exertions of Mick Ensoll, 1\ jN orris, A. Robb and B. Widdicomb, who sailed on Teddy in the race, Captain iambs was ready on the line when the gun fired lor the start to Tauranga. Word ot his arrival and entry for the race was made known on arrival of the "Auckland tit-Ai" next morning, and a big crowd gathered on the Town Wharf to give her owner and his crew a warm welcome, Three cheers, followed by the well-known refrain, rang out as Teddy, in charge of the harbourmaster's launch, drew alongside the end of the wharf just before dark. Skipper Tambs acknowledged the greeting, and the boat was a centre of interest during her visit, which extended to five days. The local sailing and motor boat races, swimming, rowing and outboard events completed a good day's sport. The courses were not so Jong as they were last year, and this allowed the boys to get ashore and enjoy themselves, as the races were all finished by 3.30 p.m. The usual dance in the Town Hall, to which visitors were admitted by invitation, was also a great success, and all hands who contributed to the regatta, from Messrs. G. Butler (president), F. C. Warner (hon. secretary), to those who were on duty all day at their various jobs from starting races to keeping the barriers, are to be congratulated, and they, in turn, were rewarded by the greater interest taken m the events, both by visiting yachtsmen and local residents. REGATTA AT COWES BAY. Cowes Bay has a distinct appeal to all boating men, like its British namesake, and there is sure to be a big gathering ot all sorts and sizes of craft at anchor oil the wharf to-morrow, when the annual regatta, promoted by Waiheke residente, will take place. The yacht Teddy will be flagship if she arrives in time, and her gallant skipper has promised to be there if possible to oblige the committee. Races will be held for all the usual classes of sailing craft, also motor boat races and the usual aquatic sports at the beach. All entries will be received on regatta morning. This regatta was first established by Mr. Croll at Arran Bay in 1895. Mr. W. Linds' 2V2-rater Daisy won the first race, the late Mr. A. W. Chatfield winning the next vear with Rangatira. The racing was very keen during the next few years, and it was the usual thing to compete at Cowes. One of the most popular items was the big gathering round a bonfire on the beach on New Year's Eve, the New Year being ushered in with song and music, not usually up to the grand opera standard, but just as much enjoyed. Later the regatta died out, but after a long spell'it was revived a few years ago, and will not be allowed to lapse again. DISTANCES TO RUSSELL. Following are the distances from North Head to Russell wharf:— North Head to Canoe Rock, 23% sea miles; Canoe Rock to Rodney, 10Va miles; Rodney to Sail Rock, 17% miles; Sail Rock to Bream Head, 9V2 miles;. Bream Head to Tutukaka, 14 ] / 2 miles; Tutukaka to Cape Brett, 30 miles; Cape Brett to Russell wharf, 14 miles; total distance, 120 miles.

CLUB NOTES. The first fixture after the holidays will be the outboards at Buckland'e Beach on January 16, with a combined cruising race to Waiheke on the same day by the Ponsonby, Victoria and Richmond Clubs.; The ocean race for the Balokovic Cup,i under the auspices of the Akarana Yacht I Club, will start at 7.30 p.m. on Friday, January 15. The course is round the Little Barrier, thence round the Great 1 Barrier, thence round Cuvier Island, and back to Auckland, a distance of 163 miles. The Anniversary Regatta committee will resume weekly meetings on Monday,! January 11. , Rangi is all ready to he shipped to Wellington in readiness for the Sanders Cup contest, commencing on January 18. The crew will be chosen next week, on the return of Mr. C. H. T. Palmer from his holiday cruise. Taking advantage of the. holidays, a number of Whangarei boats have visited Auckland, the white cross on a blue ground of the Whangarei Cruising Club's burgee being much in evidence. , NAVIGATION AND RIDING LIGHTS. Yachts and motor boats when under way at night are required by laws for preventing collisions at sea, or in other words, the rule of the road at sea, to carry certain lights, and penalties are laid down for their non-ohservance. Motor boats are required to carry a red light on the port side, so fixed as to show the light from right ahead to two points aft of the beam on the port side. On the starboard side, a green light must be shown visible from right ahead to two points aft of the beam on the starboard side. In addition, a motor-driven vessel must show a bright white light so fixed as to show ahead and on both sides to two points aft of the beam. This is to be 9ft above the side lights. Small motor boats must carry the masthead light not less than 3ft above the side lights. When at anchor a bright white light must be shown, which is visible all round the horizon. Sailing craft must carry the abovementioned port and starboard lights only, also the riding light at night. CHRISTMAS DAY AT SEA. Christinas Day was spent at sea by all who competed in the Tauranga race, and many others who were cruising had their Christmas dinner afloat. The crews in the race to Tauranga had time to do full justice to the good things provided by "cookie," for light weather prevailed until about 1 p.m., when the wind came away fresh and kept them busy. Christmas dinner, even in the days of the old wind-jammers, always brought something extra for the men. Usually a pig was killed, previously fattened for the occasion, and with plum duff and a tot of rum to wash it down, sailormen were quite content to go back to "hard tack" for the rest of the voyage. HARBOUR FISHING REGULATIONS. Launch and other boat owners arc reminded that they must not anchor in the main fairway of the harbour, between the five-fathom banks (as shown on Admiralty Chart 1970), between a line drawn west from Rangitoto Beacon to Takapuna beach, and a line drawn north from the end of the western tide deflector. BUOYS, LIGHTS AND BEACONS. Yachtsmen who, during the holiday cruise, visit harbours with which they are not familiar, should remember that a uniform system is in force of marking the channels, shoals, rocks or other obstructions in all New Zealand harbours. The shapes and colours of the buoys and beacons all have their own meaning, and the following should help to distinguish them, and the message they tell to those who can read it. Starboard hand, by which is meant the right side of a river, harbour or port when entering from the sea, is marked by red buoys, which are conical shaped. Port hand, the left side of harbour* when entered from the sea, is defined by black can-shaped buoys. Beacons carrying a light show a white light to the starboard side of a channel, and a red light to the port side. Whangarei is an instance of a well-marked harbour on this principle. Round buoys arc used to mark middle ground, and arc painted in black and white horizontal stripes. There is room to pass on cither side of these buoys, which usually mark a shoal or submerged rock. The rough rock buoy off Cheltenham Beach is an example, also the Wellington buoy in the fairway below Oncrahi wharf, Whangarei Harbour. Beacons are mostly used in rivers, and to mark stray rocks or patches of rock on ends of reefs. They are distinguished by their colour and shape, the same as buoys. Starboard hand beacons are red and arc surmounted by a staff, and a globe. Port hand beacons are black, and are surmounted by a staff and a cage. A beacon with black and white horizontal stripes denotes middle ground, and it can be passed on either side. Distress Signals. It may happen through an accident or bad weather that a signal of distress is necessary. Such signals are universal and arc very simple. In the daytime, hoist a square flag, with a ball, or round object resembling a ball, above or below the square, or fire a gun at intervals of one minute. The international code signal of distress is N.C. At Night.—Fire a gun at intervals of one .minute or show rockets or shells of any colour, one at a time, at short but regular intervals, or display flames' Such as from a burning tar barrel or oil or kero-sene-soaked rags. Sound Signals. Sound signals can be used to indicate the course of a motor boat in daylight. Ono short blast means, "I am altering my course to starboard." Two short blasts mean, "I am altering my course to port." Three short blasts mean, "My engines are going full astern." Short blasts are of one second duration. HIGH WATER DURING THE HOLIDAYS. The following are the times of high water at Auckland during the holidays, which are correct to summer time:— January 1, 0.34 a.m., 12.52 p.m.; 2nd, 1.24 a.m., 1.41 p.m.; 3rd, 2.18 a.m., 2.35 p.m.; 4th, 3.16 a.m., 3.34 p.m.; sth, 4.22 a.m., 4.40 p.m; 6th, 5.29 a.m., 5.46 p.m.; 7th, 6.33 a.m., 6.50 p.m.; Bth, 7.30 a.m., 7.46 p.m.; 9th, 8.20 a.m., 8.38 p.m.; 10th, 9.9 a.m., 9.25 p.m. The following table for high tides of other ports can be used with the tide table for Auckland, given above, by adding or subtracting the difference as required:— Awanui River, add 40m; Bay of Islands, add 35m; Cavalli Islands, add 40m; Coromandel. subtract om; East Cape, subtract 50m; Great Barrier (Nagle Cove), subtract 10m; Kawau, subtract sm; Mahurangi Heads, subtract 15m; Mangonui Harbour, add 40m; Manukau Heads, add 2h 35m: Mercury Bay, add sm; North Cape, add 50m; Onehunga wharf, add 3h 37m; Opotiki River, subtract 15m; Parengarenga Harbour, add 45m; Russell wharf, add 30m; Tauranga wharf, subtract sm; Thames, add 25m; Tutukaka, add sm; Whakatane, subtract 10m; Whale Island, subtract 40m; Whangarei, same as Auckland; Whangaroa. add 10m; White Island, subtract 30m; Whangaruru, add 10m.