YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 22, Issue 95, 16 January 1929, Page 8

YACHTING

BY

"NEREUS"

Jelllcoe Class. Sanders Cup week Is drawing rapidly nearer, and it is high time that the Wellington boat and crew were going into training. During the past week we have seen several trials, and the selector, Mr. W. Duncan, must be pretty well satisfied bj now as to what will be his choice for A ’mhat there was little justification in the attitude taken up by Mr. F. W. Fr«D« a when he eliminated the Clyde has been clearly demonstrated. One well-known yachtsman once remarked of Akaroa that “down there you got bad weather one day out of seven, and then what they called ‘bad weather' down there would be called up here ‘blue sky, passing clouds. On the calm, sheltered waters a good light sailer is the first requirement, and it seems nretty obvious that the Clydes claim to being the best of Wellington boats under such conditions is beyond dispute. Alone of our fourteen-footers she possesses that mysterious quality which can enable a boat, built to Identical specifications, to drau ahead of her sister boats. Colleen and Eileen will both be hard boats to beat but Wellington need not be ashamed of whichever boat Is chosen to carry her colours. All the candidates have shown great improvement on last year s form—and it is time the Cup spent a year in Moro C d?fficult that the task of selecting the boat is that of choosing the personnel of her crew. This is all important, and it Is probably with this end in view that Mr Duncan is continuing to hold his races. One would like to see a decision arrived nt verv shortly; though, in order to accustom skipper anil hands to their new charges peculiarities well lu advance of the contest. At Akaroa. Dates fixed for the races arc as follow :— February 14, first race; February 10, second race; February. 16, third race. Residents of Akaroa, according to a Southern report, are keenly awaiting the coming of regatta week. What with ar-rau'-ing and organising for tlie housing of Floats and the billeting and entertainment of crews, the local committee is working a lot of overtime just at present. Hotels and boarding-houses in the locality are being bombarded witli requests tor accommodation from far and wide over the Dominion, and those who intend going South for the event would be well advised to book early if they do not fancy camping out. Dominion Conference. At the same time as the Sanders Cup races the Dominion Yachting Conference will be held, and in view of the remit being brought forward to restrict ages of ; crews to 21 by the Royal New Zealand I Yacht Squadron—which refuses to support i future Cup contests unless it is adopted—the conference will be an Important one. I It is held that the idea of the donor of I the cup was to encourage yachtsmauship ! among the younger generation. Nowadays this has become the blue-ribbon event of New Zealand yachting, and the high cost ; of the fourteen-footers employed is well i beyond the reach of most of the young > men. "Bobstay” In the Christchurch “Sun” [ suggests that if tlie ago limit in the remit ; were amended to 24 or 25 it would on this account prove much more acceptable. The Canterbury Association is in support of the proposal and Intends bringing , forward another amendment to the effect that crews be changed about as in the Cornwell Cup races, instead of being con- . fined to their own boats. While this would undoubtedly prove a fairer test of 1 the yachtsmanship of the representatives one feels that it would detract considerably from the interest that has come to be attached to the event. Cornwell Cup Trouble. Many inquiries have been made by those ’ interested in boating as to what will br • the next move by the North-East Harboui ' Club in connection with the challenge forwarded to Auckland for the Cornwell Cur ! contest (writes "Rudder” in tlie “Otagc Daily Times”). Officials of tlie club arc , not inclined to impart any information on I the subject when questioned. When dis- ’ cussing the matter with a prominent member of the club. “Rudder” could only font - the conclusion that there is a great deal ol ' dissatisfaction amongst a majority of clut members over the persistent attitude taker i up by the committee in connection with the | challenge. It was hinted that if tlie club I or the committee of the club, did not accede to the association's request to withdraw I the challenge, a large number of the preI sent members would resign. .Since thei: ' rumours have been circulated to the effect I that a move will shortly be made to torn: I a new boating club at Macandrew Bay, am the consensus of opinion of, boating mor I would appear to lend support to the stateI ment. It is understood that the names, oi two .members of the North-East Harboui I Club have been mentioned ns possible dele gates to the conference to be held ai Lyttelton prior to tlie contest. Two trial I races were held on Tuesday evening, anil ' the club’s action in conducting these has exerted much adverse comment. Worser Bay Notes. The third club race was sailed on Saturday last, and resulted in a win for tin Kakariki. The boats were sailed under fairly squal ly conditions, a north-westerly wind making tricky work for the skippers. Onlj four boats started. The results were as follows“Kakarlri” (1 min.), 1: Marti (1 min.), 2; Ngaroma (scr.), 3; and Spitfire Ci min.); 4. Aggregate points, gained so far by till various boats, for the Charman Cup arc: Kakariki, 34; Ngaroma, 33; Spitfire, 28; Marti, 12; Gypsy, 12. On Sunday Mr. Sang's Toroa took n party, to Half Moon Bay. Mis-Chief, the speedy little outboarder gave the bay a short visit and afforded picnickers an opportunity of seeing what tliese smart craft can do. The “Banshee” was another visitor to the Bay. Baremata Outing. Yachtsmen are reminded of the cordial invitation extended to them to be present at the annual outing of the I’arcmata Club, to be held on Sunday next.. Transport will be provided by the club launches to Maori Flat, and members and friends should spend an enjoyable day. Keeler Goes Aground. During the course of the Devonport Yacht Club's cruising race to Rocky Bay, Waiheke, on Saturday last, the. keel yacht Waione stranded on the sandbank just below the Devonport wharf. There she remained hard and fast until the launch Olivene went to her assistance and towed her out into the deep water. As tlie mishap involved a delay of a quarter of an hour, the yacht took no further part In the race.