A NOTED VISIT.

Auckland Star, Volume LXIX, Issue 285, 2 December 1938, Page 15

A NOTED VISIT.

SYDNEY 18-FOOTERS.

TAREE, MALVINA, ST. GEORGE A«D JEAN COMING.

HOW THE PLANS WERE MADE

Although negotiations had been entered int.. monfliM ago for the return visit of lour Sydney IS-footers to Auckland this season. matters were somewhat inili'fniirii. and the IS-footers' committee, after lie.iding on the'prize money, number of races, title of the contest, finanee and other preliminaries, decided that a visit to Sydney was the best way to finalise the matter. Wh»n Messrs. (i. M. Drnno<>. chairman of the local committee and the prune mover in the visit of our four boats Jo Sidney last January, together with Mr. T. Webster, a member of the committee, intimated their readiness to to Sydney at their own expense to meet the' New South Wales Sailing League, it was unanimously agreed that they should so. 'the S.nlney I .eaglle, at a largely attended meeting with our delegates, took np the.matter of the visit to Auckland most enthusiastically, and agreed to send four of their best boats. Taree, Malvina. St. <ieorge and Jean. These boats and their crews or eitrht, together with oniciala 'or the league arid others interested, will leave Sydney on Friday, February 11, by the ' n,"" 1 liner Awatea. arriving on Monday, tebruary 13, at 8.1.j a.m. Visit To Brisbane. Mr. Pernios said that they went first to I.risbane. Where they met the secretarv of Ihe Kuynl Queensland Va. lit Club. i'liev wore made honorary members of this club and were presented with a club hiir-'ee luiring their stay in Brisbane tlie.v lint the leading owners, skippers and builders, including Mr. Norman Wright, the designer and builder of the champion Taree. Tile workmanship and finish of all of the Imats were of a high standard. The use of hollow spars is general, and paint is not Used on the hull of a racer, hard varnisn taking its place, both inside and out. This s'i 1 1 s firmly and is capable of a high poii.-h. All riiriujf hnafs arc lumped ax as ilu* rafo is finished, sailx and car*' fully away, only the cruixinjr class romainitio on mooring.*. This also applir? fo and, in a leaser degree, to Melbourne.

At Sydney the two delegates had a right royal time, judging by their remarks, everybody doing their utmost to make their visit a pleasant one. also giving their assurance that, the Sydney IS-footers would not only come to Auckland next February, but would also come to the Centenarv celebrations in 1940. One of the first to Sjreet Messrs. Dennes and Webster was Mr. John Kyd, formerly commodore of the Ilowick Sailing Club. He is the secretary of the Koyal rrlnce Alfred Yacht Club,

which has Its club rooms in Cnstlcreagli Street. They were elected honorary members for the itaration of their visit. The officers of the Royal Prince Alfred Club entertained Messrs. Dennes and Webster anil exchanged a burgee fur a Heme Bay club flag. Met the Sydney Sailing League. They were most enthusiastically received by Mr. J. J. (iiltinan. secretary of the New South Wales Sailing League, at the club rooms. George Street, and were accorded an official dinner during their visit. The races on the following Sunday were watched with interest from a ferry steamer chartered by the League. A tine exhibition of sailing in a light breeze was given by the winner, Britannia, carrying a huge Spread. Iboats competing.

•>u October 24 Messrs. Dennes and Webster attended a meeting of tile League |o discuss the visit to Auckland. All matters were amicably arranged, and the four boats. Tarce, Malvina. Jean and St. George chosen to go to Au<*kland.

The following Sunday the league's races were sailed in a fresh southerly breeze, Allruth winning. In these races the system of allotting handicaps at the start was general, it was originated in Sydney by Mr. Mark Foy over So years ago, and is known as the Mark Foy system. By this method the limit boats are dispatched first, the others following on their handicap time. It Is popular with spectators, from the fact that the first boat home is always the winner, no time allowances having to be deducted, as in our system of flying starts.

The time at start method is used locally for outboard and speedboat racing at. the Anniversary Regatta and by the Manukau Club, but is not popular here for sailing events, especially with long handicaps. It in more equitable in classes where the handicaps do not exceed 10 or 12 minutes.

The 12ft and 16ft classes are also very popular in Sydney, and the delegates visitiM their headquarters, and were well received, and a promise was made to consider sending representatives to Auckland in l!)4o. The regatta of the Royal Prince Alfred \acht Club was held on Saturday, November ."*». and Messrs. Dennes and Webster enjoyed the outing on the club's steamer. Til ere were four divisions, front large keel yachts to 12-foo.ters. The handicaps at the start system was used for all classes. While this club will not be represented at Auckland in lf»3!) or 1940, many members stated it was their Intention to visit Auckland for any Inter-Dominion contests.

At Melbourne Messrs. Dennes and Webs tor were entertained by the Koval St. Klldn Yanht Chit) and the Royal Brighton Yn«;ht: Club. They nrt Mr. H. A. Armstrong, a jcreat supporter of the Jubilee 38ft onedesign class. At a luncheon tendered to thein a discussion took place on interpoiitinion racing and the beet means of encouraging it. The Jubilee class lias proved very popular in Melbourne, where it originated, from a design by Mr. C. l'eei, and a large number -have been built in Victoria, South Australia. Queensland and West Australia. It was only recently adopted in Sydney, but already 2(i boat's are being built. The boats are somewhat similar to our M class. They are ISft overall, 16ft on the wuterllne, 6ft Siin beam, lft 4in depth amidships, carry 4.."»cwt of ballast, and 183.2 square feet of sail In a mainsail and jib.

One thin# that impressed the delegates was the keen Interest taken in sailing by the public of the large cities. Everywhere they went they were received with the greatest hospitality and expressions of goodwill towards New Zealand yachtsmen.