YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 16, Issue 154, 17 March 1923, Page 17

YACHTING.

(By

“Nereus.”)

Most of the important club fixtures throughout Now Zealand lor the IJ-2-1923 season have been decided, and by the end of next month most of the yachts will be in winter quarters. As far as the season has gone one thing is evident, and i,liat is that yachting as a sport in this country is going ahead in a marked degree. The Sanders Cup contest is now a well-estab-lished event. By next season New Zealand should be represented in the contest for the Tasman Cup, presented for compiZition among Australian and New Zealand yachtsmen by Sir Joseph Ward. The controlling bodies of this country and Australia, are noy negotiating for a satisfactory set of rules. Those negotiations have been going on for %omo months, but it is batter to take time and give satisfaction, than to rush into agreements which wilt prove unsatisfactory and produce discontent. The most important fixture for today is the race for the Clarke and Morris trophy for the 14-footers. Tho course will be from tIA Clyde Quay Wharf to the Jerningham buoy, thence round the Coromandel buoy back to a-buoy moored off the Clyde Quay Wharf. This course is to be sailed twice round. The race be contested under the aegis of the R.P.N.Y.C. On this club’s programme there is also a general handicap for first and second-class yachts. The course for these two events is from the Clyde Quay Wharf down te the southern blinker light soutn of Ward Island, then up to the buoy off the southern end of Somes Island and back to the starting point. The R.P.N.Y.C. present trophies at the end of the season for the championship and the aggregate for first and second class yachts. I<or the championship trophy, points are determined as follow:—The first boat to finish, handicaps not considered, receives one point; the second yacht to finish receives two points, and so on. If a yacht does not complete the course

she receives the number of pointe secured by the last boat to finish, plus one, and if a boat does not start she receives two points more than the last boat to finish. In the case of the aggregate trophy the points are determined in the same manner, but the place is considered with the handicaps adjusted. Thus the yacht receiving the least number of points in either class secures the trophy. Following are the positions of the yachts at the present time with about three more races to be contested.

FIRST CLASS.

“Mainsheet” writes: The race for the Murphy Cup was the centre of interest during last week-end, and with the Levin Cup, for centre-boarders, and the Hislop trophy for the launches, ‘a very good programme was presented. A bad start was made in the contest for the Murphy Cup, most of the boats being too anxious to get away, and some others not being ready. Rona and White Heather were well in hand, and obtained good weather positions. Several boats were too far away when the flag went down and had to beat or run to the line before starting. Al-

though a certain amount of this cannot be helped, care should be taken not to get too far away. One boat had a rather good method of waiting for the start, and, instead of beating up the bay, as maiiy other boats did, ran back and forth on a lead between the buoy and Miramar Wharf, then shortening the lead as the time for the start approached, the consequence being that when the flag went down she was only a few yards away from the line. On the thrash to windward the skipper of the. White Heather showed splendid judgment in keeping on the port tack, most of the other boats loosing ground by keeping to the western shore. MTiite Heather was first round the Somes Island buoy with Bona a close second, and Marangi and Wanderer third and fourth respectively. A feature of the race was Venus and Windward coming down the bay on the run back to the line neck-and-neck, crossing the line a dond 'heat. "Wli’te Heather now retains the cup. having won the raco twice in succession.

The Levin Cup was won by the Miro (22min. handicap), with Petrol (19min) second, and Sylvia (7min.) third. The launch race for the Hislop trophy went to the Foam (22min.). with Kakariki (IGmin.) second, and Nikau (12min.), and Amokura (15min.) third, and fourth respectively. Romp arrived back at her moorings in the bay at 7.30 a.m. on Saturday, after a fortnight’s cruise of the Sounds. The. 'weather was good, but not so good as is usually the case about this time of the year. The trip across was made in a long south-east swell and a light, wind from the same direction, which held until the yacht was well across. The night was spent at Teawaite. Next morning the breeze was fairly steady and took the yacht mp Tory Channel till Queen Charlotte Sound was reached and entered, when the breeze again died out ■ and the Romp lay becalmed. A member of the crew rowed up to Picton in the dinghy, where he met r. Kiernan, commodore of the Port Nicholson Motorboat Chib, who, on learning the circumstances, very generously _ offered him aid, and returned with his launch to tow the yacht to Picton. His ac-

tion was greatly appreciated by the skipper (Air. Ibbotson) crfcfr, who thanked Air. Kiernan heartily for his kindly aid. At Powerful Bay a day was spent visiting all the delightful places that there was time to see, and the party are loud in their praises of this beauty spot. Fishing attracted some of the members of tllie crew, and although there is no record of ao extremely large catch, nevertheless a good meal was made from the results of their sport. Something in the nature of an experience was gained by their trip round Jackson Head. The yacht, was close reefed and sailing on t an open lead, and at times quite lift, of the main boom was in the sea, wliich was exceptionally heavy. But the little boat stood up to it well, and maintained the reputation she has earned of being a good sea boat. Once round the head, the sea was . somewhat calmer, a good breeze being experienced right up Pelorus Sound. lan Bay was the rendezvous for the night. Havelock, Elaine Bay, World’s raid, and many other pretty places were visited before the start for home was finally made. Starting on. the return trip a steady south-easterly breeze carried the yacht clear of Tory Channel, but it dropped away off Karori Rock at about 6.30 on Friday evening. On Saturday, a fluky breeze carried the yacht to the head of Evans Bay, when it again fell away, the moorings finally being reached at' 7.30 a.m. It was impossible to get 'the yacht ready for the Murphy Cup race in the afternoon, and the crew had to be content to watch the proceedings from the pier. Those who ihade the trip were Afessrs. A. J. Ibbotson, L. Ibbotson, R. Ibbotson, D. Todd, and L. Swift.

There was no racing by the Heretaunga Club last Saturday. On Sunday, Ijoweverj the ocean race for-. 18fcoters was contested for the Irex-Cup. The event was won by Nautilus.—The course for this race lay from the Petone wharf to the buoy at Joming-' bam Point, thence to the beacon-'off Somes Island, to a buoy off Lowry Bay, back to the Petone Wharf, thence opposite to Patrick Street and bgck to the starting line —a distance, all told, of .10 or 11 miles. There was also a race for the Aggregate Cup for 14footors, won by Spook.

Champ, points. . 10 Aggregate points. 10 Kotiri II . 10 10 Ailsa . 18 18 Atalanta . 21 20 Tlola . 20 19 Rona . 16 17 Kotiri I . 27 28 Heather . 26 24 Wanderer .. 26 26 SECOND CLASS. Galatea . 6 9 Romp . 20 20 Windward . 12 13 lolanthe . 23 23 Raw'ene .......... . 13 8 Seabird . 18 18 Nanette . 22 23