YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIII, Issue 227, 24 September 1932, Page 17

YACHTING.

THE STAYSAIL SCHOONER. LOCAL BOAT TO CABBY THE NEW BIG. DEPARTURE OF BETH AND HEARTSEASE. CLUB NEWS AND NOTES. (By SPEEDWELL.) COMING EVENTS. September 2S—Akarana Yacht Club Annual Meeting. September 29—Tamaki Yacht Club Annual Meeting. September 30 —Hoyal N.Z. Yacht Squadron Annual Meeting. October ti—Ponsouby Cruising Club Annual Meeting. '. THE MODERN SCHOONER RIG. Mention has been made several times in this column of the "staysail" schooner rig, and it is now illustrated. This sail-plan will be seen for the first time on the ■ Waitemata in November, on the new boat whkh P. Vos ie building for Mr. B. S. Woollacott, of Stanley Bay. ' The staysail rig originated in the United States, and has developed as a handy type for off-shore cruising and racing. In the last two races from New York to Bermuda several boats rigged in this manner competed with success. The race across the Atlantic, from New York to Santander, Spain, also gave prominence to the rig, as Nina, the winner, was rigged in this style. It is an adaption to the schooner of the modern Bermudan rig, so popular with the owners of racing craft, large and small. It has several advantages, ■ which are claimed, and rightly so, for the Bermudan sail, in that it does away .with the long gaff, which always falls off to leeward, and it allows the sails to be trimmed-in closer to the wind and still keep the boat going well. It also cuts down the sail area into smaller sails, which niakes for ease in handling. There ie a scientific xeason for its effectiveness, go lucidly explained .by Dr. Manfred Cury, who has made many experiments in the aerodynamics of sails. The sail plan of Mr. Woollacott's new boat shows this type of sail very clearly. It will ibe seen that the sails are set on a stay, hence the name. Even the jib ie set on a stay, which α-uns in for stowing. Aft of the jib (No. 1) is the ordinary staysail (No. 2). Mr. Woollacott has fitted a swivelled boom to the staysail, which ia not laced, and it swells out when the sheet is eased up. Aft of the foremast is the trysail (No. 3). It is set in a. track on the mast, similar to the mainsail, and is sheeted, not on deck, but almost at the mainmast head. The boom, which is also up aloft, is double and fitted in leather pockets, oue on each eide of the sail. The main staysail (No. 4). ,is similar in »very way , ,to ; the fore staysail (No. 2),. !■■'- The anaineail (No. 5) is also set on a 'track on the mainmast, with a loose foot. These arrangements cut down work, as 'the only sheet to be tended when, "going .'about" is the jib.The new auxiliary cruiser being built at Devonport by Mr. Geo. Hogan, 30ft by lift, will also cariy this rig. She is well advanced and will be launched shortly before Christmas. She will be named Mangawai. Her owner hopes to cruise as far as the Kermadecs before the season ie over. ANOTHER TASMAN VENTURE. The 40-foot motor yacht Beth left Auckland ilast Saturday afternoon on the first stage of a 4000-mile cruise to Adelaide. Norfolk and Lord Howe Islands will be touched at, and then, on to Sydney. The trip down the Australian coast will be made with calls at Eden, Jervois Bay and Newhaven, me.ar the entrance to Port Philip. From here the last leg of 500 miles will toe. made to her home port of Adelaide, where her owner expects to arrive at the end of November. The 'boat is owned and will be navigated by Mr. T. H. Webb, who ie accompanied by ibis sons, Sidney and Reginald, also Chas. Bowden, of Northcote and B. StaJlard, of Wellington, both experienced yachtsmen. Mr. Webb expects to make Norfolk Island in three and a hall days from Whangaroa. She will stay for a. lew., days at this interesting place, and push on to Lord Howe Island, another three and a half days' run. From here a course will be set for the Australian coast, a little north of Sydney, which is also expected to take three and a half days. The coastal trip will be taken more leisurely. Beth is well provisioned for her long voyage, 200 gallons of water and three months' food are aboard, and 400 gallons of petrol axe stowed in her tanks, which it is estimated will give iher 38 h.p. Ailso Craig engine a radius of 1400 miles. Beth was strengthened and two tone of lead added to her keel by W. G. Lowe and Son, who also fitted out Heartsease for her long trip. Beth is rigged as a ketch, with staysail, leg-o-mutton, mainsail and anizzen. Enough sail is in this rig to steady her and help the -engine quite a lot. She left with every good wish for a successful voyage. Oimara was the first boat to set the fashion for trans-Tasman cruiees, when uhe arrived at Wellington from Melbourne nearly two years ago. A few months later Teddy, since wrecked at Kawau, Oimara and Rangi raced across to Sydney, Teddy winning by two days from Oimara. Rangi and Teddy both sailed back . to Auckland, and Oimara home to Melbourne. The next venture was the 3S-footer Arethusa, which made a smart passage of 11 daye to' Suva, in charge of her young owner, Hereward Pickmere, of Whangarei. Karly this year a party of six Canterbury College students bought the 60-ton ketch Waterlily, and set off for the South Seas, ivhere they are still cruising. A few months later a 22-footer sailed away with a solitary occupant for Tonga, but after two days of rough weather the boat limped back to port with most of 'her sails blown away. PONSONBY MODEL YACHT CLUB. The Ponsonby Model Yacht Club will hold a series of races over the week-end. -This time the four-footers will start first, followed promptly by the three-footers, and later by the two-foot class. This should improve matters from the point of view of spectators, as there will be three events going on at one time. The twoi'oot class will have a shorter course, both to keep them clear of the bigger boats and to enable them to finish earlier. A general handicap will then be held, all starting off the mark together, times being adjusted at the finish as in regular lacing. At the club's meeting on Monday several trophies were promised, including .1 cup from Mr. J. Winters, a rose bowl from the Victoria Club, and another trophy from Mr. Geo. Mobberley. Visitors will again be most welcome. It is surely better >to concentrate on one club conducted in a business-like way and having the advantages of sheltered water and a big stock of dinghies, made available by the sporting attitude of the Ponsonby and Victoria Club boat owners, than to start small clubs at other centres which have fewer privileges at their command. With the Orakei Club at the eastern end of the town and the Ponsonby Club at the western, all who wish should be able to obtain sufficient racing. A number of Hew boats will appear for the first time at this meeting. The Orakei Basin has been cleared of mangrove stumps and bushes in its southern end and now gives a much better course for models. The club', recognising their lack of dinghies, has placed an order with a local firm for three. They are beamy craft, seven feet long, and all will be ready in time for the opening on Labour Day.

HfeAHTSEASE SAILS FOR SUVA.

The yacht Heartsease, which has been preparing for the past two months for a cruise to the South Seas, thence via Torres Strait to the East and on to Singapore, and finally through the Suez Canal and the Mediterranean to England, left Auckland on Tuesday evening for Kawau, where the final painting and stowing of stores will be made. It ie expected that she will leave Kawau to-morrow for Suva. The crew consists of Captain A. J. D. McArthur, of Wellington, Lieut.-Commander Juler, of Melbourne, Gordon Douglas, of Havelock North, H. Dixon, of Wellington, T. Silk, of Wanganui, and R. F. G. Hutchison, of Masterton. What ship will be next on the list for a lon# cruise is now the query. EARLY CASES OF YACHT PIRACY. One of the earliest cases of the theft of a yacht occurred in the early 'nineties, when a 30-foot keel yacht named Malua was stolen from near the Wynyard pier. The case created a stir in yachting circles of the day, and a reward was offered for the apprehension of the culprit. A big search party was sent out in the yacht Rita to try and find the yacht, the Barrier and the Coromandel coast ibeing visited by the searchers. Evidently the culprits got wind of the search and made across to the mouth of the Wairoa, where the Malua was abandoned. It was some time before the thieves were found and brought to justice. In April, 1915, the 28ft auxiliary yacht Rinaldo, owned by Mr. W. Littleproud, was taken from her moorings off Ponsonby, and was eventually located on the Manukau. Shortly after her disappearance a yacht answering to her description got ashore outside Meroury Bay. The crew of two had run short of water, and having no dinghy they put the boat on the beach. While ashore, the wind came in, and she was driven well up the beach. Assistance

was eought, and with the help of borrowed jacks and a team of bullocks, ehe was relaunched, those assisting being rewarded by the gift of a gramophone, rug, gun and other articles from the yacht. The boat was next eeen at Whangarei, near the Heads, ibut she sailed on to Whangaruru, where ehe stayed long enough for the crew to paint her original white topsides green. From here she went to Ruesell, where provisions and fuel were purchased, and some repairs made to the engine, the men stating that they had sailed from Fiji. Next day the yacht made off, a new; dinghy ■belonginjr to >a local boat owner disappearing at the same time. The yacht was next seen off Hokianga by the a.s. Rimu. The chief officer hailed the yacht, and asked where ehe was bound, but got no answer, and the Rimu reported the matter on arrival at Onehunga. Two days after the signalman at Manukau Heads reported that a strange yacht was at anchor inside the Heads, and a- party of police went down in a launch. The two men were asleep at the time, and together with the yacht, were brought back to Onehunga. The leader was sentenced to five years' imprisonment. Prior to this a 26ft mullet boat was stolen from her moorings in Hobson Bay. She was eventually discovered in use as a fishing boat at Mercury Bay. She had been repainted and her name changed, but the same man who got off with .both the Rinaldo, and later the Raata, was arrested and punished for this theft. The Mlzpah. Thanks to the smartness of Detective McHugh, some years ago, another theft of a yacht was nipped in the bud? The owner of the yawl Mizpah was approached by a prospective buyer, who was taken for a trial and shown the working of the engine. He arranged to meet the owner and complete the deal the next day. Acting on a remark caeually dropped, the detective searched the waterfront and found a youth standing by some ships' stores on the Par* nell jetty. This led to the arrest of a young man, who confessed that he intended to put the provisions on the yacht and clear out with- her to the islands. In 1922 the auxiliary yacht Raata, 40ft by Bft by 3ft 6in, was stolen from her anchorage off the Nelson Street wharf by three men, who took advantage of the fifct that her owner, Mr. W. Standish, had stocked her with .provisions and oil ready for an extended'cruise to the North. This etock was .further increased by. the proceeds from a store at Whitianga, which was entered, and food and clo.thing and tobacco stolen. There was no trace of the Raata until the s.s. Wairuna reported having passed her 288 miles north-east of Auckland, half-way- to the Kermadecs, on May 9. . Evidently the stolen yacht was then put on a course for Queensland, for nearly two months later word was received that she had turned up at Yeppon, 60 miles'up the river from Rockhampton, and about 1600 miles distant from where the Wairuna spoke her. The crew were arrested, and brought back to Auckland, and dealt with severely. In the present days of wireless communication it is more difficult for a yacht to be spirited away. At the same time a systematic patrol of the waterfront and on the harbour is a growing necessity, and when times improve thie will'be urged on the authorities with renewed vigour. TO WATERPROOF FISHING LINES. To lengthen the life of fishing lines and make them proof against the action of the salineg contained in sea water, try this tip now and have them ready for the season: Soak the lines for 24 hours in a solution of sulphate of copper (ordinary "Milestone"), a quarter pound to a gallon of water. One pound will just be right for a benzine tin of water. Then soak them 24 hours in soapy water. This will form an insoluble eoap which penetrates every fibre of the line and makes it waterproof. Shake off excess and dry in the sun. THE RULE OF THE ROAD IN RHYME. When going free you must keep clear If a close-hauled vessel comes too near. Close-hauled- to starboard you hold sway: Those on the port tack must give way. When free to port you must keep wide Of one with the wind on her starboard side. • Sailing with wind on the same side free, The weather ship luffs for one a-lee.

CLUB NOTES. ' The Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will hold its 61st annual meeting next Friday. Mr. N. L. Macky, having completed two years as commodore, is retiring, and Mr. J. H. Frater is the only nominee for the office. Mr. E. H. Northcroft will move up to vice-commodore and Mr. H. G. George has been nominated as the new rear-commodore. The Akarana Yacht Club's annual meeting takes place on, Wednesday next. Mr. F. W. Jeffeis is—uetiring from the office of commodore, which he has held for the past -two years. There will be competition for the- vacant position, Messrs. Harry Hill and Tom McKay being nominated. Mr. Geo. Grimmer is the only nominee for vice-commodore and Mr. Gordon Miller for rear-commodore. Both Messrs. Hill and McKay are old members of the club and good workers. Mr. McKay has held office aa vice-commodore for a year and as commodore for two years. He has also served on the committee for about 20 years. Mr. Hill is also a very old member, having joined the club when it was the North Shore Yacht Club, 30 years ago next month. For 13 years he has been secretary and for another three years treasurer. With one exception he has served on the committee continuously for the past 28 years. The Tamaki Yacht Club will hold its sixth, annual meeting in the Imperial Theatre, Kohimarama, next Thursday. This club has had a very successful year, and the balance-sheet, thanks to the work of the treasurer, Mr. Warwick Jackson, shows a credit of £84 5/6. This was aided by a grant of £64 from the Kohimarama sports fund. The amount now standing to the credit of the building fund is £416 .13/6. This has all been achieved in the last four years and reflects credit on the ladies' committee, of which Mrs. Madill is the treasurer. Proposals in connection with the clubhouse will be submitted at the meeting on Thursday. The Richmond Cruiemg Ciun had a record attendance at the annual meeting on Tuesday, which was held for the first time in the new clubhouse. A number of new members were elected, and keen interest was displayed in the affairs of the

club, especially by the younger members, .one of whom, Vince Hogan, was elected vice-commodore, and another, G. F. Belloe, as rear. The veteran commodore, Mr. T. L. Thompson, was unanimously re-elected, and with a good credit balance this club's prospects for the coming season are very good indeed. The Ponsonby Cruising Club'e annual meeting will be held on October 5. Mr. W. Thomas, the present commodore, ie not seeking re-election. It is understood that a well-known boat owner who has not previously held office in this club, although a resident of the district for a number of years, hae been approached to stand for the office, and has consented to nomination. Mr. Norman Matheson, a very good worker for the club .and the eport generally, has been nominated for vice-commodore. The Victoria Cruising Club, always early with its annual meeting, held a general meeting on Wednesday, when the handicaippere and sailing committee were elected for the season. Sailing committee: Messrs. L. A. Tercel, G. Parker, O: Johnson, E." Culhane, W. Bettany, and H. Martin, Starter: Mr. O. Johnson. Judges: Harbour races, Mr. E. Griffiths; cruising races, Messrs. H. Reston and L. A. Tercel. Handicappere: Keel yachts, L. A. Tercel; 26-footers, Geo. Mobberley 20-footers and 22-footers, G. Parker; 18footers, W. Bettany; 16-footers, W T Matthews; Y class, G. Fitzgerald; T class,' W. Tupp, een. \ At a smoke concert held on Saturday evening, the Manukau Yacht Clu.b presented a life member's certificate and medal to Mr. C. G. Herbert, the retiring commodore. The presentation was made by Mr. E. Morton, Mayor of Onehunga, and .president of the club. The flags of office were also .presented to the commodore, Mr. A. A. Coates, vice-commodore, Mr. R. Belcher, and rear-commodore, Mr. J. McLeod. Several of the older members of the club were present, including Captain'R. H. Gibbons, Meeers. M. H. Wynyard, J. A. McLeod, W. Marks, T. H. Pardington, Len. Bray, A. E. Herd, C. A. Osborne and Norm. Wilson. Mr. G. McCulloujjh. chairman of the Mount Roskill Road Board, was also present, and congratulated Mr. Herbert on attaining the honour, and he commended the club for its activities .among the younger members.