MODEL YACHTING.

Press, Volume LXVI, Issue 20021, 1 September 1930, Page 6

MODEL YACHTING.

OPENING OF THE SEASON. \rhen a EtiS north-east breeze is blowing in Christchurch thero are at least 23 men whose thoughts turn immediately to model yachting. Saturday afternoon saw tha opening of the season for the Chriatohurch Model Yacht Club, and the gleaming white eails. moving rapidly from end to ond of Victoria Lake,' made a fascinating sight from all parts of Haglcy Park. Tho north-easter is generally favoured by membars, but thero ar» well-seasoned enthusiasts who have mastered the vagaries of the wind from almost sll.'. quarters, and only pouring rain detora them from their favourite sport. The club has just added a social room to its house, the work having been done by members who formed working-bees. Tho total membership now stands at 23 and there are 82 boats in the shed. Some of the yaolits are comparatively Cheap and can be placed on the water at a cost of between £7 and £lO. On the other hand, so much oaro can bet put into tho building that the value rises to a icmar!:able figure. For instance, one member of the Yacht Club has his boat insured for £45. ■ When out on tho lake . the models appear to bo very tiny, hut actually the club Stipulates, for its races, that the length must be 4ft Gin and the beam from llin to 18in. Most of them draw lOin on account of the shallow water round the banks. The average mast it 9ft high and the weight solb—the hull 20lb and keel 801b. The club is now in its thirty-third year and Victoria Lake has been the scene of tu-any strenuous contests. Mr G, Humphreys, thw president, has been a member of the club since its inception and another original member is Mr C. A. Oakes. The racing course is sis .lengths of the lake—about one and one-fifth miles. Allowing for beating the complete distance averages nearly two mi'ea and the fastest time is 21 minutes. All competitors are handicapped on past performances, and at. the end of the year tho members buy trophies out of their aggreKatf winnings. Results oi the racing on Saturday wore as follows: First Heat—S. W. Smith's Charlie (hantlieap }min SOsec) 1; ,A. Seramen's Dolphin flier) 2; E. Hod?e's Kea (30sec) S; R Monro's Isa (SJmin) -4; H. 3, Bowlker's Amy (IminV 5. Time, 37imin. Second Heat—Charlie 1, Dolphin 9, Kea 3, H. Scmmen'e Annis (Bmin) 4, Amy 5. Time. 80imln. The final rwralt: was:— Charlie (16 points) J Dolphin (10 points) 2 . I£c» (6 points) 3 . 'Annis, Amy, and Isa lied for.foui-th with two points each.