YACHTING.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVI, Issue 170, 20 July 1935, Page 21

YACHTING.

NGA TOA'S GREAT RECORD

ENDAVOUR LOSES HER MAST,

NGATAKFS NEXT CRUISE

(By SPEEDWELL.)

The records of our racing fleet shown in these columns recently are proving interesting to a number of boating men, many of whom are not actively engaged in the sport, but can look back to the time when they were in the thick of it with the oldtimers which were raced just as keenlv and carried on to the last moment in tlieir efforts to win a race as the present-day yachtsmen do.

Amongst the performances for last season the record of Messrs. Winstone Bros.' N:ra Toa is outstanding. In fact, since she was built in December, 1!)2G, by Mr Colin Wild, of Stanley Bay, Nga Toa lias put up a very consistent record. She is owned by Messrs. Eric, Bruce and Owen Winstone. sons of Mr. Geo. Winstone. who usually linds time to make one of the crew in ail of her principal races, especially to Tauranga, where she has competed each year since she was built.

Isga Toa is 46ft Sin overall. 30ft lOin waterline, Oft 71n beam. Oft 2in draught and lias 5 tons of lead on her keel. khe carries the popular and effective Bermudan rig, setting 1050 square feet of sail. Her racing crew usually consists of Messrs. E., B. and O. Winstone, G. Winstone, J. Inkster, J. Brooke, R. Douglas, and G Kemp. During the 1034-5 season Nga Toa started 13 times, finishing first on nine occasions. They were:—November 24, cruising race, Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron ; December 15, general handicap, Royal New Zealand Yaclit Squadron; December 25, Tauranga ocean race; January 1 1935 Tanranga regatta; January 2!), anniversary regatta; February 1, night race to Xawau : March 2, harbour race (A class) ; March 30, cruising race; April 13. cruising race. In three of her races—the Mack V Memorial trophy, Admiral Blake's tropliv, and the Governor-General's Cup—Nga Toa carried off the first prize. . Her record for the Tauranga ocean races is as follows : —l92(i, lirst; 1!)27, secondfirst; 1929, first in but unplaced; 1930,. finished first; 1931, finished first--1932, first; 1933. unplaced; 1934, finished first, placed third.

llie fecord of her performances at the Auckland anniversary regattas is :—1927 first: 1925, second; 1929, first: 1930. r.n----j) laced ; 1931, unplaced; 1932, third: 3933, unplaced; 1934, first and champion Hag; 1930, first and champion flag. ' In the Macky Memorial races she won in 1931, 1932, 1933, 1934 and 1935. In the races to Te Kouma l'or the Alexander Memorial Cup, Nga Toa's plaeings were:—192S (first race, not for the cupj. first; 1929, second; 1930, first; 1931, inplaced ; 1932, first; 1933, first; 1934 and 1930, unplaced.

In ail of lier races she has been sailed in turn by Messrs. Eric and Bruce Winstone.

PONSONBY'S PRIZE NIGHT,

A POPULAR FIXTURE. The most popular and best attended prize distribution of the season, so far, was the Ponsonby Cruising Club's thirtyfifth annual function, held on Wednesday evening at tlie Peter Pan Cabaret. It was a decided step- ahead on the part of the club to secure this large hall, and the result was very gratifying to all concerned.

The Lipton Cup, valued at £250, was greatly admired, many seeing it for the first time. The Hewson Memorial Cup for the r A class and tlie Raliiri Cup for all 14footers also came in for a share of interest. The former was won by Master Jack Waddel's Water Beetle, and the Rahiri Cup by Mr. Neil Wing's Muimai, representing the Tamaki Yacht Club. Mr. Keith Draffin, rear-commodore of the Royal Is'ew Zealand Yacht Squadron, under whose burgee Tamariki won the Lipton Cup, received many congratulations, especially as it was the first occasion on which the "Royals" had nominated a boat for this contest.

With the advantages of the large dance floor alid other facilities for the comfort of members, the attendance was a record one, and all enjoyed themselves. It ranks •with the Victoria Club's prize night of 1921, when the Town Hall was filled. The 14-footers Iron Duke and Desert Gold were on the stage, and Jjady Jellicoe presented the prizes. Mr. T. L. Thompson was commodore of the "Vies" at that time. Mr. F. W. Jeffers, commodore of the Ponsonby Club, and his officers and committee, not forgetting the hard-working and ever-courteous secretary, Mr. Jack Willcocks, are to be congratulated on the success of the evening.

THE YACHT KIT A. A GOOD OLD-TIMER. Old-timers will remember the yacht Rita (Maori for demon), which the late Mr. Tom Henderson, who was local manager of the Union Steam Ship Company, owned and sailed for many years prior to purchasing the Sydney yacht Volunteer, which sailed across to Auckland. Rita was built for Mr. Henderson by the late Mr. C. Bailey, sen., in January, ISS2, and was launched just prior to regatta day of that year. She was one of the first of the deep keel type to be built here. Her dimensions were: Length overall, 45ft; length on waterline, 39ft; length on keel, 35ft; depth. 7ft lin. Originally she had 2J tons of lead on her keel, with one ton of lead and eight tons of pig-iron as inside ballast. Later her outside lead was, brought tip to 10 tons. Her cabin was comfortably fitted, and she was able to sleep eight persons on the berths. Mr. Henderson made many cruises to the Bay of Islands; in fact, in company -with her rival. Arawa. owned by the late Mr. J. L. R. Bloomfield, she was the first yacht to make the northern cruise to Russell and Wliangaroa, both of which are now so popular. Rita had a good racing record, although there were few races held then apart from the annunl regatta. The rivalry was so keen between Rita, and Arawa that several private matches were sailed. At the Anniversary Regatta the year she was launched Rita was sailed by the late Mr. Albert Sanford. and won easily, Toroa being second. Rita also won the regatta race of 1885 and the Auckland Yacht Club's race in 18S7. She -won •a match with Arawa, sailed round the Watchman Island, off Cape Colville, and back. Another sporting race was against the Island schooner Flora, the prize being a ease of oranges. Rita won. and Captain Glassenaps, of the Flora, brought the case up from Rarotonga. One of the most exciting finishes was in the Auckland Yacht Club's race on May 24, 18S7, when after a neck-and-neck race all the way between Rita and Matangi, Rita passed her rival on the run from Nortlicote Point to Queen Street wharf, and won by 4s. Other rivals of Rita were Muritai, Maritana and Maratea. The old ship, which was always painted white, while Arawa. Maritana, Matangi and Maratea were all black, was finally broken up for her lead in 1000. One year her log showed that she had sailed 2134 miles.

When Mr. Bloomfield sold the Arawa and had the Viking built for him by Mr. C. Bailey, Mr. Henderson brought the Volunteer over from Sydney, and the friendly rivalrv continued between the two skippers and their crews in the larger yachts.

POINT CHEVALIER SAILING CLUB. The Point Chevalier Sailing Club will hold their annual pi'ize night next Tuesday at Dixieland, Point Chevalier. This has been necessary, as last year the club's hall was taxed beyond its capacity. The prizes will be presented by his Worship the Mayor, Mr. Ernest Davis, who has been a patron of this club for the past 1G years. PONSONBY MODEL YACHT CLUB. The Ponsonby Model Yacht Club w'ill hold their third annual prize distribution at Point Erin Kiosk this evening. Mrs. J. McWhirter will make the presentations. THE TILICUM. Some will remember Captain Voss and his Indian dug-out canoe Tilicuni, in which he sailed round the world, visiting Auckland about 1901. The Tilicum is mentioned in the June issue of the "Blue I eter, which refers to the achie\<?ment of Captain. Voss. The Tilicum was SSft long, verv narrow and drew only _tt. She had three light masts on which were set fore-and-aft sails. Sometimes with a favourable slant of wind she did 100 miles a dav, her best run being I<7 miles in *>4 hours. Captain Voss died at California about four years ago and the Ti iciim is still preserved in her original condition at Vancouver, from which port he started out on his 40,000-mile voyage.

BRITISH YACHTING,

MISHAP TO ENDEAVOUR,

Mr. T. O. M. Sopwitli's ".T" class yaclit Endeavour, the America Cup challenger of last year, carried a way her steel mast when racing at the Royal Thames Yacht Club regatta on June 0, off Southend.

In this race r. Gerard Lambert's Yankee competed for the lirst time since she crossed the Atlantic. One of the hands 011 the Astra fell overboard when getting the spinnaker in, and he was drowned.

Both accidents happened at about the same time, when the yachts were on the second leg of the course. There was a strong but not really heavy south-westerly wind blowing.

Astra's crew accidentally let go the spinnaker sheet while trying to get it in, and fhe sail blew out like a kite. In trying to get it In Lewis fell overboard.

Captain Heard did everything possible to save him. Astra's boat was smartly launched, with two men in it, and two lifebuoys, promptly thrown, fell near to Lewis, who was swimming. Velslieda, which was following, tacked in the hope of giving assistance. But Astra was running before the wind, with her sheets free, at 11 knots, and by the time the boat reached the spot where Lewis had been swimming he had disappeared. Endeavour Towed Home. Almost simultaneously Endeavour gybed, and lier steel mast broke GO or 70 feet from the deck. The pleasure steamer Claeton Queen stood by until Mr. Sopwith's schooner Vita took lier in tow to Sheerness. The disasters which caused the retirement of Astra and Endeavour probably robbed the American yacht, Yankee, of the distinction of beating the best of our J class boats on her lirst appearance in English waters. The owners of both Candida and Shamrock V. decided not to start. At noon the other four .1 class vessels began their race from the starting line off the pierhead. They had their main booms eased well off to port for a free reach from Southend to tile Nore Lightship. Endeavour crossed the line lirst ; then came Yankee and Velslieda, nearly level. Astra was over the line too soon and was recalled. She returned, and followed about 300 yards astern. Endeavour Leads. In view of the strong wind and overcast sky. the three English yachts had singlereefed mainsails, while Yankee set a small mainsail, equal in size to a reefed sail. As they travelled to the eastward down the estuary against the flood tide Endeavour began to reach away from the fleet. Yankee was in second place, not a length ahead of Velslieda. Astra, owing to her misjudged start, was a couple of minutes behind. At the Nore Lightship they had to bear away a little to point on the course to the West Oaze buoy, and main sheets were eased off a trille more. Yankee lowered her jib and foresail, and set a large, light Genoa jib, or bowsprit spinnaker, in place of the two head sails. At about 1.45 p.m. they came to the West Oaze buoy. Endeavour, which had been sailing well, was one minute jind a quarter ahead of Yankee, and Velsheda was two lengths or so behind the latter. Astra had held on well, and was 2m 50s after Endeavour. The direction of the wind was, as nearly as possible, dead aft for the next leg of their course, but the flood tide was on their starboard beam, setting them broadside up the river. Yankee's Timely Gybe.

In these conditions it is usually impossible to run from the West Oaze to tlie Mouse Lightship with the main boom oil' to starboard. But Yankee did so. She gybed at the West Oaze and set her spinnaker to port. She was lucky in these tactics, because the wind westerned slightly, and enabled her to run to the Mouse quite comfortably.

The English yachts did not gybe at the West Oaze, but set their spinnakers to starboard, thus running on the opposite gybe to Yankee, intending to gybe as they approached the Mouse Lightship.

Had there been no disaster Yankee would certainly have been the leading vessel at the Mouse, and would have cut out Endeavour. She had merely to take in her spinnaker and haul in her main sheet to luff round the mark, whereas Endeavour and the others had to go through the process of gybing.

Mr. Sopwitli carried on with his spinnaker far too long. His boat was running with her main boom right off to port, far to the eastward of the lightship, and. In fact, before she gybed she was running wild, and far to the east of her course, while her opponent, Yankee, was comfortably heading in the proper direction for the lightship.

Endeavour managed to gybe, but in doing so carried away her mast, and almost simultaneously there occurred the tragedy on board Astra. Endeavour, a complete cripple, was about a third of a mile to the east of the Mouse Lightship. Yankee, followed by Velsheda, obeyed the signal to race the shortened course, and Yankee won comfortably. Official finishing times: —

Yankee (winner) —Mr. G. R. Lambert lb 46m 24s Velsheda (second) —Mr. W. L. Stephenson lb u9m u9s Endeavour and Astra gave up. NGATAKI'S LONG CRUISE. TO VISIT EASTERN PACIFIC. HOME FOR CHRISTMAS. The dreams, or, rather, the well-laid plans of Mr. John Wray which ho thought out while working, often quite alone, for over two years building the Ngataki at the back of his home at Remuera are all coming true. Ho has already cruised to Tonga and back, also been to Sunday Island twice, and has competed in the first and only race from Auckland to Melbourne, down to Hobart and back to Auckland. During these cruises he has covered about GOOO miles, and now he is off again for the longest cruise of them all, which will include Sunday and Rapa Islands, Tahiti, the Marquesas and Cook Group, and back by way of Samoa and Fiji. This will occupy fully five months, and Johnny W. plans to be back home by Christmas, and has promised Speedwell to take part in the race to Tauranga. The selection of the crew for this long cruise has not been finalised, but may include Messrs. D. Wellington, J. Baxter, A. Colebrook, M. Robinson and a wellknown Wellington yachtsman. Ngataki will leave to-day for a short cruise in the Gulf, returning about Wednesday, and will then load stores, etc. and be ready to start ia about a week's time. Yachtsmen all wish Ngataki and her popular skipper the best of luck on this cruise. John W.'s last adventure was getting the ketch Me Hongi off the NinetyMile Beach with the aid of two bullocks and sailing her to Onehunga. She will now bo known as the Clifton, and is to be taken to Mr. S. Ford's yard at EUerslie to be converted into a really comfortable cruiser with outside ballast.

VISIT OF SOUTHERN YACHTSMEN. Captain Keane, of Wellington, Mr. G. H. Curtis, of Christchurch, and Mr. 11. Moller. of Dunedin, were 111 Auckland this week. Mr. Moller, who is a brother of Mr. Oscar Moller, late of Talsapuna Club, returned on Monday. On Thursday Captain Ivean and Mr. and Mrs. Curtis, together with Mr. W. A. Johnstone, of Bayswater, were the guests of the Tamaki Yacht Club during the afternoon. The visitors were charmed with the view from the upper balcony of the clubhouse. The guests were welcomed by the commodore, Sir. W. A. Wilkinson, and the president of the ladies' committee, Mrs. Fred Browne. Mr. Wilkinson mentioned that the first Sanders Cup contest, held in 1021, in which Lord Jllicoe represented Auckland, started and finished near where the clubhouse now stood. It was the height of his ambition, he said, to start another contest from the clubhouse some day, in which all of the Southern boats would be competing. Captain Keane and Mr. Curtis, when thanking the club for its hospitality, said they were in love with Auckland as the vachting centre of the Dominion. Captain keane claiming an early acquaintance with the harbour and gulf. They agreed that the prsent position of the Sanders Cup contest was not in the best interests of sport and hoped that some day the commodore's wish might be realised.

PRIZE NIGHTS. lulv 20—Ponsonb.v Model Yacht Club. »Tulv 23—Point Chevalier Sailing Club. August 10—Devonport Yacht Club. August 14 —T aka pun a Boating Club. \ucrust 17 —Akarana Yacht Club. August 1" —Orakei Model Club (annual meeting). September 7 —Tamaki Yacht Club.