messing about in boats

Press, Volume C, Issue 29421, 25 January 1961, Page 11

messing about in boats

Tandem The experiment of skipper and crew on separate trapeze wires will be continued by Brian Treleaven and Melvin Sei wood in their racing dinghy Fresco. The pair first had the idea and tested its possibilities on the Estuary at the beginning of the season; then they kept quiet about it until it was seen—and caused a stir—at the national Leander Trophy contest in Auckland earlier in the month. Treleaven, from experience so far, discounts the suggestion that skipper outboard tends towards loss of control. He attributes a capsize at Auckland during the tandem wire act to the end coming off his tiller extension. Fresco is definitely an improved racer to windward when both skipper and crew are outboard and it is to be hoped that their persistent experiment will give way to reliable practice. Should the twin wires prove themselves practicable they will be the first major change in this class of yachting since the introduction of the single trapeze wire and self-baling venturi. Ramps One of the best rigging areas around local waters is the spacious, flat lawn about the Mount Pleasant Boating Club. Launching facilities have, however, been lacking, particularly with an influx of visiting yachts for major races. Recently the club set out to make improvements. First it laid down a concrete ramp; now it has built a tfew wooden ramp from the breastwork into the water. Harbour Board timber torn from wharves under repair at Lyttelton provided the materials for the latter: voluntary labour did the rest Workers went so fast that the ramp was in position and ready to use three hours after the job started.

A long term scheme envisages the whole of the breastwork fitted with a huge, single sloping ramp. Facilities such as these make inter-club visiting easier and more pleasant: and it is to be hoped that the idea of streamlining this aspect of yachting is carried out fully. not only at Heathcote Bridge, but elsewhere as well.

Hands Down Consistent sailing during this season has been shown by the Canterbury club yachtsman Don Borrell. On river. Estuary and harbour he has raced his Olympic Finn Hyphen and his form has shown considerable improvement. In the class championship race at the Waimakanri regatta in November he took sixth place: a week later, he scored a third place in the first Estuary pennant class championship; and now has scored two consecutive wins

With 200 points in the last series—more than 140 points ahead of the next contenders—Borrell is in an unassailable position for the trophy even though one race still remains to be sailed. Pram To R The R Class yacht Wraith is under new ownership. John Wearn, who recently returned to Christchurch from overseas after having made the 12.000 mile journey overland by car, has sold it to the Snelgrove brothers, Geoffrey and John. The Snelgroves, who live at Sumner, had their last sailing experience in a pram on Moncks Bay; they will probably be racing the Wraith at Lyttelton. However, the yacht requires work to be done on it and may not appear for some time.