Good Starts And Close Finishes In Opening Of Season In Tauranga

Bay of Plenty Times, Volume LXXVIII, Issue 15117, 28 October 1949, Page 5

Good Starts And Close Finishes In Opening Of Season In Tauranga

Yacht Racing

KEEN ENTHUSIASM DISPLAYED BY BOATING

FRATERNITY AT PAHOIA

(By "Rope's End") The racing- programme of the Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club went away to a flying start on Saturday when some good "fields" faced the starter in fine, light westerly weather. Another week or two should see most of the boats down. Features of the racing were the good starts and close finishes—although, with the races starting promptly on the schedule time, one or two skippers were caught napping, one boat being almost five minutes late.

First to face up to the starter was the T class fleet. Nine enthusiastic youngsters went across the line in a blanket start with Ross Denniston (Charm) just shading Mack Nell (Torrington) and Alan Stamp (Ariki). Denniston held the lead for the greater part of the race but at one stage, after coining off second best in a tussle of tactics, it, appeared that he may have been beaten. In a hard-fought finish, however, he came again to just headoff Peter Andrews (Cadet) and Bobby Cruden (The Ace). All three sailed good races and will be hard to beat as the season progresses. Jimmy Gilpin (Aries) did well to finish fourth just ahead of Stamp. Others who sailed well were John Lukey (Highet). Nell, Colin Southey (Cheetah) and Baxter (Surprise). Bruce Sneddon (Alana) showed the way to Eric Wagstaff (Malua) and "Mac" McClymont (Rata) at the start of the Frostbite race. George Carter (Mistral) was a late starter but sailed well to make up a lot of leeway. In a well-fought race Wagstaff just showed Sneddon the way to the finish with McClymont close up. It appears that the winter preparations are paying dividends in this class. A lot of work has gone into these Frostbites which are looking very smart and businesslike.

A strong fleet rf Zeddies crossed at eunfire in a gocd start with Brian Hartley (Kestrel), Clem White (Scudda Ho) and Alan Mollgaard (Lyla) in the van. As kites were set for the leg down harbour the fleet presented an attractive sight. Another late starter, Jean Mackay (Satu) sailed exceptionally well to be close up with the leaders at the finish. Making an early bid for representative honours, Tommy Smith (Albatross) led the fleet home from White, Mackay and Hartley. Sailing his first race in his new Margie, Eric Wright did well to finish fifth. The Margie is a trim looking ship and once Wright gets the feel of her he should be well in the running in future races. Brian Stanton (Torpedo), Brian Teasey (Cheetah), and Mol'gaard had a private battle, to finish in that order behind Wright. The only other starter was Clive Baikie (See Bee). Good Forward-hand Work

Forward-hand work was quite fair considering the season has only c penecl. There is undoubtedly a fine collection of prospective representatives in this class. Some who catch the eye are Noreen Bickers, Jim Youngman, Roy Wagstaff, Ralph Hartley and C. Waldon. The final selection for the Cornwell Cup forward hand will probab y come ;rom this group. •

The "dying" class, the Idle Akngs, has not yet given up the ghost as four boats were sent away in an excellent start. Smart kite work in Geoff Woods' Comet gave this boat the initial lead from Gordon Hardy (Tipsy) and Ray Bailey (Isa Lei). As the fleel -'ame up to the finish John Hewitt (Itma) led from Bailey and Woods. Hewitt sailed well and deserved to get the gun. Unless Bailey reaches his last season's standard he will find that Hewitt will replace him as a logical contender for the Tauranga representative skipper to the Moffatt Cup trials. The best forward hand was undoubtedly Ted Denby, but it is evident that, in common with the others, he is still rusty after the winter lay-off. Both Peter Southey and Ron Bailey were fair but also want some of the rust chipped off. If last week's standard cf yachting is any indication it is safe to say that this will be a most successful season for the club. Bearing in mind the enthusiasm shown in these first races, the selectors wi'l be faced with many headaches over selections for representative crews. The first bouquet of the season goes to John Hewitt for his fine initial race.

A successful first annual meeting of the Pahoia Boating Club was recently held at Pahoia. After reading a report of the meeting it is indeed gratifying to find that the fine efforts of Messrs West, Collin?, Steemson, and the others are bearing fruit. Acquisitions at Pahoia

I understand that Jim Collins has purchased the Kitty, a Tauranga Zeddie, and that Peter Southey is being asked to skipper the boat in the trials. This should provide some stern opposition for the local lads. In the T class, Michael Steemson has acauired the Bat, Roy West, the Wizard, and Peter Blackburn, the Adventure, while Neil Kurth is lined up for another Tauranga. There are several other boats on the way including a launch for the Commodore. Two lads from Omokoroa are showing extreme keenness and Willingness to get started.

What struck me most about the Pahoia club report was the fact that the club had built the clubhouse and did not owe any money on it. It hardly seems possible that this couM be done, but it has been done and, what is more, in a period cf just short of a year. This is an outstanding effort and augurs well for boating at Pahoia. Only with such enthusiasm and co-opera-tion of the members of the club and the Sea Scouts could such an outstanding result be produced in such a short spell of time. According to information, sections there are in brisk demand and local yachties have been advised to stake their claims as soon as possible as apparently the demand is greater than the supply. Last weekend saw a number of keelers up for an overhaul before the summer gets under way in earnest. Included in this group were Frank Gresham's Mata-Atua, which was having the seams of the cabin top sealed wir.h pitch. Commodore Hans Mollgaard's Ngarimu undergoing the cnce-over, and the Cachalot. Considerable silting-up is evident at the northern end of the jetty and it would not be before time if the committee did something about scouring out that spot. With quite a few boats still to come down, the reclamation is even

now taking on a crowded appearance. Despite the fact that I have mentioned the untidiness of the reclamation on a number of occasions, a large number of the people who have these spaces do not seem to think that they should keep them tidy. A little bit of work with a spade or shovel would work wonders and improve the appearance of the area. Proposed Extensions As usual the social committee was on deck to serve afternoon tea last Saturday. Considerable discussion, it appears, is centring on the shape the proposed extensions are . to take. One group favours erecting a large jetty, while the other group supports an extension that would make the present building into a two-storey

clubhouse with storage space clown below and a clubroom, conveniences, and small dance hall in the upper storey. Just which alteration will be the final answer it is hard to foresee as any alterations are tied up with the obtaining of a permit, and this snag seems to be the principal "fly in the ointment." Whatever extension is approved, will be by majority decision. A comprehensive programme has been produced and includes everything about the season's racing, and tide "tables for the racing days. It is well presented and I think that the criginators of this attractive programme should be well pleased with themselves. An all-out* endeavour is being made to increase the building fund and the social committee have a number of projects organised to raise funds. It is hoped that all members will support these functions and so asist the bunding fund.