DAYS OF SAIL.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20011, 20 August 1930, Page 3

DAYS OF SAIL.

REMINISCENCES OF CAPTAIN T. A. DYKES. Somo interesting reminiscences, of the romantic days of sailing ships were contained in an address to Canterbury yachtsmen given last evening by Captain T. A. Dykes, until recently Superintendent of Mercantile Marine at Lyttelton. The lecturer is one of the few remaining, skippers who "followed the call'' before the advent of the' steamers. Tho lecture, which was arranged by the Canterbury Sailing and Power Boat Association, was largely attended Captain-Dykes said:that he served his apprenticeship on a little boat of. 250 tons gross register. She was,the handiest iittl© vessel he had ever had experience, with. It was,- here that_ he. learned the great, truth of . the nautical legend that a ship will "talk" to its helmsman when he became thoroughly accusto.med to it. Every vessel had its peculiarities, and these ties must be humoured. This, said Captain Dykes, applied even .to steamers. A helmsman might become so intimate with his charge that be could tell by its slightest _ movement, when it needed helm. As instance of this he mentioned a vessel which had twisted its stem to the extent of only one and a half inches. Yet this caused the greatest discrepancy in steering. Capain Dykes went on to tell of his experiences in . many ships on many seas. ' . ' Captain Dykes. aMifessed. that his yachting experience was very limited. However, he thought ; that what was practically his only experience . in yachting might be of interest to his audience, in pointing some lessons. It was in the Old Country that he handled a yacht, for really the; first and only time. He, deputised as skipper for a friend in a final,, race. | On taking. the little vessel over, he , found that she continually came ' up into the wind. Captain Dykes immediately. f set out to ' investigate ' and improve, if possible, ' the balance of the yacht He tried, first, -adjusting th.e ballast, and this • effected • some improvement,, but he became convinced that the mast was too far. .forward. Adding a' bowsprit-and increasing the size of the jib had the desired . effect, and •in tho race for the trophy the vessel won with .ease.; All , thib .went 'to show that yachtsmen , should , thoroughly try out their boats., They should remember that if it. was necessary to ; hold the tiller .hard, over, the vessel was losing way all the, timeSimilarly if it carried so much sail that' it • heeled right over, progress was being retarded - Qaptaiu Dykes answered a number of questions and was accorded a hearty vote, of thanks for his address.,