YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 164, 13 July 1935, Page 21

YACHTING.

THE ENGLISH SEASON.

modei.s at winter show.

JUDGES' HARD TASK. (By SPEEDWELL.) All yachting enthusiasts and many thousands of others who have visited the Auckland Winter Exhibition have been attracted by the display of model yachts. They occupy a prominent position facing the main entrance, and though somewhat crowded, tliey make a very fine show. A feature this year is the number of newboats. These represent over 75 per cent of tin exhibits. Additional interest centres in the exhibit of the Auckland Ship Lovers' Society. This is contained in a large glass ease, donated by the late Mr. William Lowe barely a week before lie died. The exhibit includes a full range of models, from the very lirst attempts at navigation down through the ages to the wonder vessel Queen Mary The work of judging the exhibits was a big one, and occupied three hours in the yachting section. One of the judges was Mr. J. Park, of Onehunga, of which borough lie is Mayor, as well as a past-president of the Manukau Yacht Club, and ol' the Manukau Senior Model Yacht Club, lie is all architect by profession, and a practical yachtsman. The other judge was Mr. Colin Wild, the well-known yacht designer and builder of Stanley Bay, whose qualifications are obvious. These gentlemen did their work most systematically. In 100 points 25 were allotted for the hull, 25 for the rigging and sails, 25 for technique, and 2o for finish and general appearance. Their task, as they admitted, was a hard one, so good were a number of the exhibits in the racing class, and also in the bestlinislied section. So close were they in the latter division that three were bracketed equal. The judges in the old-time model section, Captain H. H. Sergeant and Mr. Forbes Eadie, had an equally hard job to decide the order of merit. These two practical men collaborated with Messrs. Park and Wild in deciding the best model in the show. This was for a special prize donated by tlip Ship Lovers' Society. This society's exhibits were not entered for competition, being loaned for the show. Several fine pictures of Auckland and .Sydney harbours, steamers, sailing ships and yachts were also lent by. the New Zealand Shipping Company, and the Tamaki Yacht Club, which, with a background of a typical coastal scene, gave a true nautical setting to the exhibits. To "Speedwell," who judged the first of this section rour years ago, consisting of about a dozen entries, the growth of this section to-day is very gratifying. THE JUDGES' AWARDS. The following are the awards in each class, and the points gained :— Best Sailing Model, 4ft.—Mr. N. Buckland's Renown, 07 points, 1; Mr. N. Pearson's Pal-o'-Mine, 92 points, 2; Master G. P. Brouu's Sea Spray, 'JO points, 3. Very highly commended: Mr. M. McGerty's model, 75 points. Best Sailing Model, 3ft.—Mr. A. W. Harnish 1, Mr. W. H. Gordon 2, Mr. N. Buckland's Flying Cloud 3. Mr. J. Marr, very highly commended, Mr. Roy McKay highly commended, Mr. F. W. Everett commended. Best-finished Model.-—Mr. C. Madigan's fishing schooner and Mr. S. H. Cook's cutter yacht, tie for first place; Mr. C. I'. Virtue's model of yacht Onelua 3. Mr. A. W. Harnisli very highly commended, Mr. A. W. Harnish highly commended, Kev. J. L. Greer commended. Best Old-time Model of Warship or Trading Vessel.—Mr. E. P. Wild's H.M.S. Victory, 90 points, 1; Mr. G. C. Wilkie's Maori war canoe, 81 points, 2 ; Mr. G. C. Wilkie's model of Ship Dart, 05 points, 3. Best Model in Show (special prize).—Mr. C. Madigan's fishing schooner, Mr. E. P. Wild's H.M.S. Victory, and Mr. S. H. Cook's cruising yacht, each 99 points, equal. The model of a fishing schooner of the Grand Banks, . Nova Scotia, has quite a history. It was built by the late Mr. Robert Logan, senior, in 1575, at the North Shore. This was just a year after the family arrived from the Clyde, Mr. Logan being then employed by Mr. 11. Nicoll, father of Mr. Geo. Nieoll, the wellknown ship builder. Mr. Arch. Logan was then 8 years old, and this was his first boat on the Waitemata. Later, when Mr. Logan, sen., started in business for himself, and built the yacht Jessie Logan, he decided to raffle the Jessie Logan, a perfectly legitimate method of disposing of boats at that time. The second prize was the model now on exhibition. It was won by the late Mr. Geo. Couzens, of Parnell, a well-known authority 011 yachting in his day. Later, the model passed through several hands (it is Oft overall and 14 inches beam), and about twelve months ago was bought by Mr. H. M. Marler, of Epsom, owner of the Piakea. The model was in very bad order, with all of lier sails gone, her bow stove in, and only one mast. She was taken in hand by Mr. Charles Madigan, who has worked at her during all his spare time for twelve months, putting in 1000 hours oil her. The only criticism "Speedwell'' has to offer is 'that all Nova Scotia fishing schooners, of the present day at least, have bulwarks all round, with two openings to launch their dories.