NEW ONE-DESIGN CLASS.

Auckland Star, Volume LXVII, Issue 175, 25 July 1936, Page 21

NEW ONE-DESIGN CLASS.

14FT SAILING DINGHY. TO BE BUILT LOCALLY. The plans of the Royal Naval Sailing Association's 14ft Island class of onedesign sailing dinghy, have been received by the Akarana Yacht Club through the courtesy of Lieutenant-Commander J. T. Lean, of H.M.S. Philomel, and have been adopted by the club for local racing. The boats were originally designed by Mr. Clias. Nicholson, of Cowes, the wellknown British designer, for use by officers of the Navy, and a number of the warships have one or more on board. Races were held at Cowes between boats of the class representing the vessels of the fleet, and after four years' trial they have been adopted as a one-design class by the Naval Sailing Club, and have become popular outside the Navy.

The sail plan, which follows the modern Bermuda pattern, is by Mr. Uffa Fox, .another well-known designer, builder and sailer of small craft, more especially 14ft sailing dinghies of this type.

The boats are 14ft overall, Oft 4in beam, and carry 140 square feet of sail in mainsail and jib. They have proved to be fust and seaworthy, and the specifications call for a strongly built boat suited to hoisting in ships, and one that, can be safely beached. The racing crew is two, but they will easily carry more. A good feature is limiting the cost to £45 complete, at which ligure they can be turned out by Auckland boat builders. The Akarana Club informs me that the plan and specifications also conform to those of the 14ft International Dinghy class, which is a popular small racing class at many, of the British yachting centres. The plan and tho following particulars have been kindly supplied by the Akarana Club.

The plans, which are published for the lirst time in New Zealand, show 1111 easily bundled craft, with a moderate sail area. They have proved particularly good on the wind in a breeze. One of the class restrictions is that boats must not cost in excess of £45 complete. Four members of the club have decided to build to the class, and another is to be built for an officer 011 H.M.S. Philolnel. This will be a good start, and 110 doubt , many other yachtsmen will build to tho plan.

Though\sonie may' question the wisdom of starting another class of 14-footers, the sailing committee of the club has given this matter careful consideration, and point out several features of the class apart from its reasonable cost. A number of British warships now carry these boats, and it will be possible for boats from visiting warships to compete on even terms in local races. The class is international in scope, a desirable feature in view of the approach of the centenary celebrations. The Idle Along class (popular in Wellington) has been suggested as a new class for boys debarred by the age limit from the Cornwell Cup class in local races. This class has not been well received here, and the Island class could take its Place also the place of the Waitakeres, which have served their purpose, and are now waning in popularity. ' ' Four or live boats may be thought a small start for a class, but the Akarana Club has started several of the now wellestablished classes from smaller beginnings. ?Vmong these were the Jellicoe class, with La Ola and Desert Gold, and the Y class, with Sea Sprite. Other clashes started by tills club were the V class, Star class, motor launch racing, outboard racing and the new cruiser class of last Though t ,Hil not start the class the club held ■ first race for M class when "Speedwc 11" was starter to the club. With this club's backing the Island class should also be a success. The plans for the class Have been supg!fa *whiT Watson m ™°chairmai? five"committee. As soon as further details n rrivo a ioint meeting of the is a\ a* bailing Club and the Akarana Yacht Club will be held to draw up local conditions.

"Speedwell" is informed that complete plans nud blue prints will reach Auckland the lirst week in August. The boats are certainly cheap for a full 14-I'ooter, but an open class lias its drawbacks, and tlie beam is somewhat restricted. However, it is evident that with live boats the class will get a very favourable start, and after all, as in the case of the original Jellicoe one-design class, if the boats are all equal, matters like small beam or sail area, or even being undecked do not matter so much in a one-design class, where each boat is supposed to be alike. A lecture 011 small boat pilotage and coastal navigation will be given in the clubhouse, Campbell's Point, next Wednesday, by Lieutenant-Commander J. T. Lean, R.N. This subject is especially interesting and all yachtsmen arc invited.

WELLINGTON YACHTS,

TWO NEW HEELERS. Speaking at the Itoyal Port Nicholson's annual smoker and prize distribution 011 Saturday week, the patron, Colonel G. F. C. Campbell, while acknowledging the increase of centre-board yachts of the smaller type 011 the harbour, mentioned the scarcity of new keel yachts. Wellington yachtsmen, he said, were handicapped by a lack of localities suitable for week-end cruises, and racing loomed more largely with them. The development of craft designed only for harbour racing will not help to establish a type of yacht most suitable for New Zealand waters. However, he added, two boats at present being built in Wellington for next season promised to be good examples of the small, all-pur-pose keeler. One of these is nearing completion at T,.vall Bay by throe yachtsmen. She is 25ft overall, with Bft beam, and draws sft. She has been built from an English design, and is capable of • sleeping a crew of six. A 5 h.p. engine will be installed under the cockpit, the shaft going out on the starboard quarter. The Bermuda rig lias been adopted, with no bowsprit, and a 40ft mast carrying 350 square feet of sail. A permanent backstay will run from the stern to the mast-head. The boat represents about 12 months' spare-time work, and her owners are faced with the task of removing her across several back yards to a and then on to the road before she can be taken to Evans Bay to have 28cwt of lend cast on her keel. The second keel yacht is smaller, being 22ft overall. 7ft 4in beam, and 3ft 2in draught, ~ "and will "carry about 251>ft of sail 011 the Bcrmudnn rig. A 0 h.p. engine will be fitted, and luewt of lead run 011 the keel. This boat represents 15 months' work by her owner, working single-handed.

ENGLISH CHANNEL RACER.

AUCKLAND YACHTSMAN IN CREW. A long-distance cruising race, held each year from Harwich, on the south coast of England, round the Maas lightship, off the coast of Holland, and back to the starting point, a distance of 300 miles, was •sailed last month, Mr. A. G. Robb, of Devonport, being aboard one of the competing yachts. Mr. Robb, who has gone Home to complete his study of yacht designing, says that he has been cruising in the yaclit Elvira several times and was invited to make one of her crew in the cross-Channel race. The Elvira, he says, is something like the Little Jim. The race was held under tho auspices of the Royal Corinthian Yacht Club and the Elvira was first across the line at the start. The weather was tine at first and good time was made to the Maas lightship, the turning point in the race. The Elvira was holding a good position, being third boat to round the light. It wan night and the rays of the light's revolving lantern—evidently a light similar to Cape Brett — showed up the yachts and the numbers on their sails as they passed it. A yacht named Sylvia, the scratch boat, rounded two hours ahead of Elvira, with Dirk not far ahead of Elvira. After rounding the lightship at 2 a.m. and on the way back, a heavy squall came down

and the wind continued to freshen, necessitating rolling in two, three and finally four reefs, with only a staysail, set for'ard. Elvira did well under reduced sail and actually passed the leading boat, Sylvia, which was reduced to her staysail. The wind and sea Increased so that Elvira liad to be content with only her staysail. About daylight the weather moderated and full sail was «et. Sylvia passed Elvira, as for the last GO miles the wind was light. The yacht, finished at 7.30 a.m. on the third day. Dirk winning, with Sylvia second and Elvira third.

The 45-foot fast cruising yacht which Mr. A. Couldrey, of Xortlicote, is building for Mr. X. H. Newcumb, of Remuera, is designed by Mr. liobb.

Dirk 11. (Mr. J. Bunting) won tlie 2."i7milc race round the Maas lightship and hack, which started from Burnliani. Her finishing time was 52h 17m 3.">s, and cor-' rected time 381 i 47m 4(>s. Sylvia (Mr. X. Jones), Felicia (Mr. P. W. Xoal), and Elvira (Mr. J. IJ. Smellie) had a close race for second place, which was won by Sylvia at 4Gh 11m 30s, with Felicia third at 4Gh 43m 31s, and Elvira fourth at 47h 19m 12s.