YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 117, 20 May 1933, Page 15

YACHTING.

MANAKAU CLUB.

FORTY-SECOND PRIZE NIGHT,

HARBOUR RACE FOIt MODELS.

(By "SrEDDWELL.")

The Manukau Yacht and Motor Boat Club held their forty-second annual prize Jistiibution on Thursday in the Foresters' Theatre, Onehunga, in the presence of a big gathering of members and their lady friends, also representatives from most of the city clubs, v

The trophies, which included a number of cups, maue a good display on the stage which was decorated in me club colours of red, white and blue. Dining an interval in the dancing, the commodore, Mr. A. A. Uoates, welcomed members aud visitors, and thanKed the donors of tlie prizes, whom lie said had kept up their interest and helped their old CiUb in spite of the times, lhe yast season had been a good one tor racing, und membership showed a small increase, especially amongst the juniors. Mr. Coates requested Mr. E. Morion, Mayor ot unehunga, and president of the cluu, to present the prizes.

Mr. Morton congratulated the club on then; successlul season, and said he vas pleased to learn of the increase m the junior members. The club was also fortunate in retaining the good will ot so many of its older members..

The first prize winners (yachts named first) were as follows: —November 19, G. Hall's Aotea, F. Cavanagh's Jess; December 3, J. Clark's Almira, .1. and D. Mcleod's Shark; December 19, Miss Mac, Shark ; January 14, Aotea. .less; February 4, It. Belcher's Sybilla, Shark; February IS, novelty race, J. Griffin's Lucinda, speed boats, R. Burgess' Cee Hopper; Februiry 25. T. and \V. Quigley's I'utticia, Jess; March 11, J. Mcintosh's Flioebc, J. Vicker.v's Karma; March 18, Aotea, ladies' race Miss Ngaire, sailed by Miss N. Lewis; April 29, Aotea, Jess. Championship cups and Hags : Open, G. Hall's Aoma; 18ft, R. Spencer's Maranui; 10ft, N. l'addy s Atangatai; 14ft, I'. and R. 11. Auger s Sea Gnome; points cup, yachts, G. Hall's Aoma; launches, D. and J. McLeod's Shark, lhe Fellowship Cup for inter-club racing between Takapuna and Manukau, was von by Manukau.

The donors of prizes included Miss C. Morton, Sir Frederic Lang, Captain It. H. Gibbons, Dr. Thomas. Messrs. Ernest Davis, F. Seccombe, A. McLeod, W. Grundy, J. Park, C. A. Osborne, W. Catley, T. C. Turnbull, Marshall Laing, W. J. Jordan, M.P. .T. AV. Rawlinson, A. A. Coates, C. Herbert, It. Belcher Ivo Dennes, C. Gilbert, L. Coulthard, A. G. Coldicutt, D. Latimer, H. Bray and Co., A. Houldsworth, T. 11. Pardingtou, 11. J. Davis, C. V. Young and J. J ell's.

The Manukau Yacht Club was formed in 1891, and next to the Koyal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, which was first formed M ISBO, and has since undergone several changes in its name, the Manukau Club is the oldest in Auckland. It has retained its name throughout the 42 yearf : .c-.i.f to incorporate motor boats about 18 joara ago.

MODEL SECTION. 3FT GIN BOATS TO RACE ON HARBOUR A number of owners of model yachts whose craft nrc only 3ft Gin overall and were thus debarred from competing in the harbour race next Saturday, have requested "Speedwell" to see if Mr. Jackson, donor of the prize, will forego his first intention of making the race for 4-footers and over. In response to their wishes Mr. Jackson has agreed to allow 3ft Gin boats and over to compete. Arrangements are being made for one or two motor boats to follow the race. While owners are expected to find their own dinghy, from which to handle their models, Manukau men or other visitors who cannot, get hold of a boat should note same on their entry form and "Speedwell" will endeavour to supply tliem. Already offers from some owners in the Akarana clubhouse have been received and they will accommodate a model man. and others are requested to drop a line. From present indications there will be quite a big fleet starting, and positions off Orakei wharf will bo allotted by ballot. So let us give this race a good start. Entries will be received up till 5 p.m. on Wednesday next at John Burns and Co. for the harbour race for model yachts to bo held on Saturday, May 27. The following <letails should be given with entries: Name of boat, owner, who sailed byj length overall, length on waterllno (approximately), total depth measured in a straight lino from top of deck to bottom of keel, last performance (If any). A fee of 1/ will be payable to provide second and third prizes. Owners are requested to provide their own boats to follow the race and attend to their models. While only-one man can handle the model, no limit is placed on the number in a boat. The race will start off the Orakei wharf at 2 p.m., all going off together with handicaps nt the finish, as in nctual racing. This will give spectators a view of 25 or 30 boats, and should be well worth following. The course will bo round Sandspit, round Resolution, and back to Orakei, but the direction of the first leg may be varied according to the wind, in order to give a good beat to windward. Entries and handicaps will be published in this column next Friday. The inter-club contests inaugurated by the Ponsonb.v Model Yacht Club between the Ornkei, Manukau and Ponsonb.v Clubs, was advanced a stage last week-end when six Orakei boats visited Onehunga and sailed against the Manukau representatives. The races were for three-footers and foiirfooters, all being off scratch. The Orakei boats were very successful, winning all the places in the three feet and first and second in the other class. R. Jensen s Monarch was first home in the three-foot class and R. McKay's Lois M. in the larger class. Manukau were somewhat handicapped by the fact that they have fewer four-footers, many of their boats being only 3ft Gin overall. A general handicap was also sailed, which was won by W. Everitt's Restless after a good'race with Gordon Bronn's Rang!. The points now stand: Orakei 14. Ponsonb.v H and Manukau 1. The finals will be sailed this week-end, when Manukau will visit ronsouby and meet this club s boats off St. Mary's Bay. The competition lias done a lot to promote good will between the clubs. This was evident by the expressions of Commodore G. Broun, of Orakei, and Commodore S. 11. Bruford, of Manukau, at an informal gathering when the visitors were, eiiteotained by the home club on completion of., the racing last week.

rONSONBY CLUB'S FIXAI-S

: The V I'onsOnby Model laclit Club will (hold their finar races of tho season tins iweek-end when -the following events arc dawir for decision-:!—(X) Watchman Cup for. 4-footers and over; (-) Orak'el v. J on son by, '3-foot dnss. ! throe-u-sido; (3) Orato v. I'onsqnby, 4-footers, tliree-a-side; (4) open ■race,. ail-poiiiors; (v>) club championship. In order lo entry out* five events, tho first raeri. will start sharp at 1.45. p.m. The visitors and competitors ' will bfc enter-, taiued to afternoon tea. Mr. C. J. Ceilings 1 inving placed his large boatshed at the disposnl of the club for the occasion. The suggestion made by this club that a subcommittee of two or three representatives lor the 1 three clubs meet and draw up •a uniform set of racing rules, has been received favourably, and a meeting will be held shortly to,give effect to it.

: ORAKF/r CLUB'S. FINALS. . Tlie Orakel Model Yacht Club held tiieir !filial events -of the season last Saturday in a steadv southerly wind. A series ot 'riirie races have been held for Commodore G. Broun's Cup. whieli was won by N. Reetson's Twilight with 15 points. R. McKay'si Lois M. being runner-up with 10 points; Mr. A. R. Bevin's (club captain) trophv was won-by R. Jensen's Monarch, 11 points, with C. Olifl'e's Ariki. 5 points, second. Next monlli Hie water will be let out of the Basin for tiiree months, when the club proposes to extend tho embankment oft the clubhouse,• as far as the present starting mark, and to make further improvements'and facilities for members. The course, which is about a mile, "will be surveyed, and permanent marks crectcd.

HAMILTON MODEL CLUB. Tin; Hamilton Model Yacht Club, with its headquarters on the lake at Hamilton East, is to be restarted early next season after a few years of inactivity. Mr. A\. T Matthews, liojyv vice-commodore of the Ponsonliv Model Yacht Club, together with Mr Harold Martin, another Auckland vaclitsman, were the principal workers tor this club, and raised it. to a high state, ot perfection, over a dozen boats Irequenily competing in two or three events on a Saturday afternoon. Mr. Matthews has now completely recovered from his minor operation, and will he competing this week-end ia the T'oiisooby Club's linals.

..... PRIZE NIGHTS. With the close of the racing season the energies of club officials are centred on their prize distributions. The following dates have already been fixed and are given to avoid clashingOtahuhu Sailing Club, May 29; Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, Juilc 9 ; Richmond Cruising Club, June 22: Victoria Cruising Club, June 2S. The Takapuna and Akarana Clubs will commence their usual winter activities on June 3.

THE OLD-TIME REGATTAS.

The early files of the "Auckland Star" give some interesting details of the early regattas. In IS7I the Government steamer Luna was flagship, with the steamers Royal Alfred and Enterprise as attendants. Cutters, yachts and rowing races comprised the programme. In 1872 six schooners sailed round Tiritiri, and each year this race was the chief feature of the day. In 1880 the first championship schooner race was hf>d, the prize being £100. Twelve vessels started. In 18S2 Cygnet won easily and in ISS4 when the total prize money liad risen to £750 the schooners were at their best, but from this on they gradually dwindled and died out.

THE FLYING SQUADRON,

Mention of old regattas lias brought " .Speedwell " the information from one who follows 'the sport, that (he Flying Squadron arrived in Auckland on February 3, IS7O. that year's regatta being postponed until their arrival. The licet consisted of six ships, which made port on regatta morning, coining up the Rangitoto Channel under full Sail before a fresh north-east breeze. The Squadron consisted of the flagship, 11.M.5. Liverpool, 30 guns, 2650 tons, GOO h.p., commanded by Rear-Admiral U. T. I*. Hornby; the LifTy, 30 guns, 2054 tons; Phoebe, 30 guns, 2590 tons; Eudyinion, 21 guns, 2-SO tons; ISarrosa, 17 guns, 1700 tons; and Scylla, 10 guns, 1409 tons. After coming to an anchor off Queen Street wharf, sails were furled and the yards manned in honour of the day.

FIRST ATLANTIC YACHT RACE

The first record o£ si yacht race across the Atlantic was in ISGO, from New York to Cowes, for a sweepstake of 30,000 dollars (£ G000). It was won by Mr. .Fames Gordon Bennett's schooner Henrietta, 203 tons. Her opponents were Fleetwing and Vesta, both schooners of about the snmo tonnage as Henrietta, which was the smallest of the three. The race was sailed in "the winter. In those days the average steamer passage across the Western Ocean took about 10 days, but these three line schooners made a faster run. Henrietta sailed half the distance in C days 14 hours, when she was liove-to in a fierce gale. She arrived at Cowes first, 14 days 2 hours out from Sandy Hook. Her best day's run was 207 miles.