YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 18, Issue 117, 9 February 1924, Page 19

YACHTING.

(Uy

“Nereus”.)

It will be remembered that on the Saturday prior to the Sanders Cup contest 'the visiting yachts took part in a club handicap for 18ft. and under class yachts, under the auspices of the R.P.N.Y.C. Evidently in their excitement in watcliing the splendid finish between the three Rona design boats, K.onini, June, and Rona, the judge forgot to notice the performance of local boats. 'The race will therefore be resailed to-day. A curious incident befell the Auckland speed boat, Miss Auckland, while running in mid-harbour on the day of the Auckland Anniversary; While careering peculiarly close to a - boat the launch’s steering gear gave way, and as tho boat swung off her course she pitched four men overboard. By good fortune tho men managed to avoid being hurt by the ferry. One of those on board the Miss Auckland, a lady, managed to stay aboard when the other four went over the side, but she did not know how to stop the speedster, which, out of control, circled round at “top” until a wave swamped the magneto and stopped the engine. Luckily no one was much the worse tor the incident.

The R.P.N.Y.C. have adopted a new method, new to Wellington at any rate, of starting yacht races. A warning gun is now fired. It certainly has its advantages, bur it caused some c*. IJvision last Saturday afternoon when the Mothes Shield rowing regatta was also in progress. The oarsmen commenced their races adjacent to .the Oriental Bay Kiosk, and on occasions <>ne rendered whether the gun was the signal for the start of a yacht race or a rowing event. Needless to say se-'c»al people were deceived on the end oi the Taranaki Street Wharf. General satisfaction has been expressed with the handicapping of Mr. J. McLean. The handicapping this season has been very bad, but since Mr. McLean has taken over this thankless task matters have improved greatly. Satisfactory handicapping is vital in a yacht race and it ‘is hoped that Mr. McLean will make a hobby of it. The 1924 contest for the Sanders Memorial Cup is just concluded and many yachtsmen aro looking forward to the next one. Wellington is assured of a Rona design boat for the next contest, and the-capital city should not be at a disadvantage so. far as a boat is concerned. A crew will be tho next proposition. Auckland placed all then faith in boys in the last contest, and their faith was not betrayed. . These boys, who had all learned their sailin" on the waters of the Waitenrxta, demonstrated that they/knew a pood deal about sailing. Wellington vculd be wise to do likewise. Promising boys should be taken in hand and trained. Speaking of the training of young boys Mr. J. Breen has done much to encourage a love for the sport among the boys in Wellington. Hq nearly, always has some boys aboard his Mira, and their questions always receive a ready answer. One of the feature events of the Annivcrsaiw Regatta in bydney this year was the speed motor-bout race f° r boats of a declared speed of 50 miles an hour. Five launches entered, Ibut only two seem tto have faced i the starter, namely, Mr. D. E.. Donkin s Meteor, which is equipped with a pair of 375 h.p. Rolls-Royco engines, and has a record of 57 2-5 sec. for a mile against a three-knot current on /the Brisbane River; and Mr. T. Bridge s Miss Sydney, 400 h.p. Liberty. Both aro hydroplanes, and the course from Fort ‘Denison to the Pile Light and back in Sydney Harbour was covered three-.times, making a total distance of 21' miles. Meteor won, her lap times being 9.51, 11.9, and 10.6, a total of Simin. 6sec., averaging more than 401 miles an hour. Tho average for the fastest lap was 42-J miles an hour. Miss Sydney could only .get six of her eight 'cylinders to fire.

The next big yachting event on the programme of the R.P.N.Y.C. will be the ocean race to Port Underwood and back on Saturday next. This race is always looked forward to, and is the most trying contest of the season. Last yeai Sellbird won rhe event.

I understand, says a southern critic, that dissatisfaction exists at Port Chalmers with respect to yachting aii'airs as at present conducted by the Otago Yacht and Motor .Boat . Association. . . It is useless and misemevous to discuss grievances at the street corner, and I hope the questions at issue will be plainly stated and settled in the general interest? of the sport. Some of the criticisms of individuals which have been brought under my notice are hardly such as redound to the credit of genuine “sports,” and trivial points have been magnified far beyond thenreal importance. One episode widely discussed during the’ week was the reported loan of a set of sails from Port Chalmers to Linnet in tho Sanders Cup contest. It has been suggested that local yachtsmen should be aggrieved at, the loan of sails, bitt such a spirit is foreign to true sporting instincts. Unless Otago required the sails it was, hi my opinion, quite reasonable and proper to loan them to a sister province. Participation in an interprovincial contest should not lull the fraternal spirit among yachtsmen, and it was good to see the ready and prompt assistance rendered to June when she met with her recent mishap in Wellington. That is the proper attitude, and I hope to see it grow rather than,; diminish. AT EVANS BAY. Last week-end was taken advantage of by tho remaining boats in Evans Bay to visit their usual cruising grounds. White Heather went for . a sail round the harbour, as also did Amai. Nancy Stair and Venus paid a visit to Lowry Bay, and the centreboard boats also made the most of tho calm week-end. Romp and Wairerb I are expected back from their holiday cruise in the Sounds in time to take part in the club race this afternoon. At the time'of writing Romp had reported “All well,” and had experienced a pleasant passage across the Straits. Wairore left four days before Romp.

Races are Being held for all classes to-day over the usual bay course. This course is three times round Evans Bay, and proves full of thrills both to the crews and also to the spectators, who are afforded an excellent view of tho race from start to finish.

To-morrow has been set down as tho annual picnic for limbless and disabled soldiers, and a very hearty welcome, is promised to all such returned men willing to accept the hospitality of the club. The motor boats and yachts have arranged to meet the visitors on the wharf near the ferry wharf, from where they will be conveyed to the picnic ground. The spot chosen will, of course, depend on the wind, and it is hoped the club will be favoured with a fine day for this worthy object. Tho club members undertake all the arrangements for the day, and the visitors are their guests absolutely. On previous occasions these picnics have been very successful, and it is anticipated that the coming gathering will be equally enjoyable. Owing to the soldiers being scattered throughout the town it has been found impossible to issue invitations in the same way as when thtey were grouped together in tho military hospitals, but all disabled returned men are asked to feel that they are in receipt of a personal invitation, which includes their lady friends.

Tho inter-club cup for the >"**oot and under class will be sailed in Evans Bay next Saturday over the same course as last year. Cooee has held tho cup now for two years, and will no doubt do her best to retain it.