YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIV, Issue 147, 24 June 1933, Page 15

YACHTING.

MANY NEW CRAFT. £14,000 WORTH BEING BUILT. CASH PRIZES POPULAR,

(By SPEEDWELL.)

Yachtsmen _ cannot be clas ed as pessimists in the face of the surpiising number of new craft now being built, or on order yitk our local boat builders and amateurs- A conservative estimate of the value of pleasure craft of. all classes which ivill make their first appearance on the "Waitemata during the coming season places their value, in "Speedwell's" opinion, at well ever £14,000. Of this total just half is represented by the 80-ton schooner-yacht now being completed by C. Wild at the Central ■wharf for Mr. J. W. S. McArthur. The completed cost of this fine craft may exceed this sum, depending on the amount spent below-decks on furnishings, etc., but this sum should represent the cost of the hull, sails, engines and ordinary equipment. A substantial sum is represented bv the 46ft motor yacht also in the hands of C. Wild, which he is building for Mr. P. Martyn Wilson, of Remuera, while nearly four figures is represented in the 30ft (overall) keel yacht which C. Wild is building for himself and Mr. St'eadman, late owner of the M class Maratea, A 3Sit bv 10ft motor boat of the popular bridge 'deck type is under way at Collings and Bell's, St. Mary's Bay, and, although this may be varied, the present plans show a boat of a substantial figure. Mr. Hogan's oOit auxiliary yawl now almost ready for the water from her owner's shed at Domain Street, Devonport, represents at least £300. A 30ft keel yacht which Fred Lidgard has well under way at Bayswater, adds a similar amount to the total. iSpeedcraft, of Judge's Bay, have two orders an hand, also representing a fair totaL Lanes have a 21it mahogany runabout ready for her motor, also extensive alterations to Mr. R. Wilson's 32ft motor boat Wiri liana, a T class 14-footer, nearly iinished, and an order for a 10ft 6in sailing boat of the midget class for a local yachtsman's son. W. G. Lowe and Son have a lot of repair work in hand, also a Mil all auxiliary yacht, 23ft by Sit, nearly completed, for Mr. L Larritt, of Devonport. A Masport Cup challenger, building by S. Ford, at Ellerslie, adds to the estimate. C. Bailey has practically rebuilt a 40ft launch for the fishing industry, adding insulated holds, deckhouse, etc., which, exclusive of her Diesel motor, represents a fair sum. W. Rogers, of Curran Street, has nearly completed a 16-footer on the lines of his champion Shalimar, and has an order for another on the same lines. As soon as they are finished he is to start on an 18-footer on similar lines for the V flass, and if possible he will then.-build a 14-foot JelJicoe class boat (1923 plan) with which he hopes to compete in the interpiovincial races for this class which the new council propose to hold next year at Lyttelton. A. Couldrey, of Northcote, is building a 26ft motor boat, which is jioaring completion. R. Gibson, late owner of the smart 18-footer Ranui, i 3 building a 22-foot L class yacht at his home off 31ount Eden Road. At a conservative estimate this gives a total of £13,500. Added to this is at least another £750 represented by about a dozen sailing boats of various classes which are being built by amateurs.

PREFERENCE FOR CASH PRIZES. Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, when presenting tlie prizes at "the Richmond Club oii Thursday evening, voiced the opinion of the majority of racing boat owners, when he stated that he was in favour of giving cash prizes. This must not be regarded as an attempt to make yachtsmen professionals, continued Mr. Holdsworth, but he was sure that many owners, especially ■those who had raced for aiiy- length-of time, must have enough of jam dishes, Jish knives, biscuit barrels and such like to stock a shop, and cash, even if only a little, was much better in these times. Xo doubt trophies, such as cups for some particular race like the ocean race tu Tauranga, the Macky Memorial_ and tlie Sanders, Jellicoe, Ross or Lipton Cups, are decidedly better than cash prizes and will always be so, but for ordinary club races, cash is more acceptable and just as easy (or hard) for the club to pay. Three of the clubs .always pay cash prizes for their regatta fixture, and one club extends this to all but the races for the M class. If it were a general practice, entries might improve this season. At least it is worth consideration by the clubs most concerned in the small classes. RICHMOND CRUISING CIiTTB. ANNUAL PRIZB NIGHT. The presentation of prizes won during tlie past season by members of the Richmond Cruising Club took place on Thursday evenins in the Masonic Hall, Belgium Street, in the presence of a large gathering nf members and their lady friends, also representatives from kindred clubs. Tlie commodore, Mr. T. L. Thompson, ■welcomed the visitors and mentioned that tlie past season had been a very successful one. Tliey had decided to give cash prizes, anil over £50 would be paid out to the winners. Mr. Thompson requested their patron, Mr. W. J. Holdsworth, to make the presentations. Mr. Holdsworth congratulated Mr. Thompson and the officers of the club on the success of the past season, which, he said, was largely due to their hard work and good management He was always pleased to learn of the club's success, being one of tlie oldest supporters, and he recalled the time when they met in a small shed on Cox's Creek, approached by a single plank, lie also had recollections of one of the committee missing his footing on a dark nijrlit and falling into the creek. He agreed with tlie club's decision to pay the majority of prizes in cash, which would be very acceptable these times. The prize-winners were: Vice-Commodore IJelive's Cup and miniature, W. Mclndoe's Mvstic: Rear-Commodore Vince llogan's trophy for highest points in cruising races, >1. Jones' Omatere; general handicap, Towers Cup (44 starters), J. Henry's Suzettc; aggregate trophy (all races), C. I'liilpotts' I'aroro and It. Thompson's Marianne tied on points. Other prize-winners were : .Sceptre, V. Hogan ; Waitoa, S. Niccol ; Rangatira. B. Wilson ; Wild Wave, F. Downs; Phaola. Chas. Brown ; Demon, R. Currey; Opah. J. Pugli; Desert Gold, W. A. Kilkinson ; Fay, R. Cunningham ; Manene, K. 1,. Stewart: Rita, A. Sanford } Drone, •I. Mills: Martha S., B. Schmidt; Spray, <iib. Mackay; Matarika, It. Judd; Otira, .1. Wilcocks; Valeria, J. McWliirter ; Celox, McWilliams and Xaden. The inter-club contest [or the Trevic Shield for the Z class Mas won by tlie club's representative, V. Field's Kitty. At the conclusion of the presentation Mr. Thompson moved a vote of thanks to Mr. Holdsworth. which was heartily endorsed l'. v all present. Dancing was continued until midnight.

MAJNUKAU YACHT CLUB. 42XD ANNUAL MEETING. The forty-second annual meeting of the Manukau Yacht antl Motor Boat Club ™ as lield on Wednesday in the clubhouse, Onchtmga, Mr. A. A. Coates, commodore, presiding over a very good attendance. The annual report stated that the past season had been a successful one; membership had increased, also the number of boats on the register. The cruising events were always popular, only the motor races showing a falling off. Thanks to Mr. T. Quigley, tlie Z class boats were maintained sii good order, the junior members taking a keen interest in their work. Tbe club's representatives at the Cornwell Cup conifst held at Lyttelton. Masters McLeod and Donovan, worthily upheld the reputation of 1 he club. With the?'generous assistance of (heir honorary members the prize fund was eoual to last year and all events, especially the cruising races, were keenly contested. During the past two months instruct ion classes were lield for juniors under the supervision of Mr. A. Twofold, the attendance being very satisfactory. The vice-president.-; and others were tendered a lishing excursion, and members of the Kichinond flub were also given a week-end trip. The prize night was another success, and tlie fortnightly dances showed a proflt of ~1">. All the executive officers liarl worked v eil to attain this and were deserving of j the best thanks of the members. '

I showed the finances and thp hnn'V 6 in a satisfactory portion? and the hon. treasurer, Mr. C. A. Osborne vias thanked for his work in this respect' The receipts totalled £11S 16/7. the exnenbalin™ a »' ns a "'edit balance. The *106810/ i a ™ ° Ver liabiutles was -•lobs 12/4. The Cornwell Cup fund was also in The sum of £1S was voted trustees building fund, eoc,« election of officers for the ensuin" season was as follows.- Patron, Sir Frederic vice-patron, Mr. Ernest Davis • nrelastenvV^.r - W " M , arks > v ice-presfdents, as last year, commodore, Mr. A. A Coatps* vice-commodore, Mr. R. Belcher P'rear comMrT'w p/",, McLe °a: hon.' secretary, n a 'nv Rawlinson : hon. treasurer, Mr. clubhouse captain, Mr. W. : assistant, Mr. T. Siebert; handiStfMr \r 1 t W V Vau K han - motor Mr Vir v Brain ; starter and timekeeper, \ au Shan ; assistants, Messrs. P. J. and A. Grupen ; auditors, Messra A. Houldsworth and Len Bray; delegates to fion m TnC ? t 4 and Motor Boat Association, Messrs. A. A. Coates and R. Belcher* club reporter, Mr. P. J. Auger; committee Messrs R. McLeod, F. Fletcher, X. a! Sutherland, J. Mcintosh. N. E. Wilson, C Herbert, E. Laird, E. Morris and D. Mcleod; sailing committee, Messrs. P. J Auger, A. Twofold and E. Laird. It was decided to reduce the fees for membership to 2/6 for seniors, 1/6 for juniors and lady members. W on the motion of Mr. N. E. Wilson that the ciub make strong representation to the Onehunga Borough Council against boats being allowed to haul out in any but the spaces allotted to them by the council. After discussion it was decided not to take any action in the matter of joining the newly formed New Zealand Yachting Council, a motion, moved by Mr. Barnes, that the club affiliate, being defeated. Votes of thanks were accorded the outgoing officers and committee, the handieappers and timekeepers, Mr. J. Jeffs, who had served on the committee for a long period, and to the Press.