YACHTING NOTES.

Dominion, Volume 24, Issue 144, 14 March 1931, Page 13

YACHTING NOTES.

Club’s Secession Talk

(By

"Nereus.”)

Much interest was aroused by the general meeting held this week by the Boy al Port Nicholson Yacht Club to consider the question of leaving the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor Boat Association. Although they claimed to have many excellent reasons for seceeding, the secessionists did not give their case very clearly. Apparently they felt concerned that the club had been overlooked on oue or two occasions and that their delegates to the association were not given a fair hearing. That seemed the' gist of their claim. The association’s supporters had several good speakers, who marshalled their facts clearly, They demanded to know what advantage Port Nicholson would gain by resigning. Against this they gave many excellent reasons for remaining. They claimed that if the club had to run its own regatta it would cost them double their present contribution, that they would have no interest in the Sanders Cup, and that the old trouble of dates clashing with other clubs would crop up unless somebody supervised. They were of the opinion that a resolution, showing that the club’s members were not entirely satisfied with ,the present state of affairs, would meet the case. Apparently ,it did, for the motion of resigning was defeated while the resolution was passed.

New Plymouth Yacht Tragedy. The tragedy which has overtaken the small New Plymouth yacht should prove a lesson to all. It goes to prove that it is high time that some supervision was exercised to prevent people from attempting sea trips in unsuitable craft., ' A prominent local yachtsman has suggested that all boats desiring to cruise outside the harbour limits should have a certificate of seaworthiness. This could be granted by the Marine Department or by the committees of the local yacht elubs. They could also sec that the Skipper ,had sufficient experience to be capable of making the trip. Some sort of supervision is very necessary. There is no need to sacrifice valuable young lives and the country’s money. The chances of crossing the Straits in a boat of the type just lost is very slim indeed. The Straits is one of the most treacherous pieces of water possible. It can be placidly calm on one side while a heavy gale is bowling on the other. Racing at Plininiertoii.

Last Saturday’s race for the Mills Cup was started in a full sail nor.th-east breeze, which later fell away to a calm and robbed Ramona of an almost certain victory. The course was a long one of three rounds and right up to the finish the spectators were kept in constant doubt as to whether Opawa or Tuakaua would be the second boat home. The boats; with handicaps and sailing times were as follow:— Tuakana (H. WaddeD.” 13mhi, Ihr. 33 min., 1 : Opawa (IT. Thompson). 12miu, Ihr. 33min. 20see., 2; Huia (F. Bryant), scr., Ihr. 2Gmiu, 3. Ramona and Colleen did not finish.

Worser Bay Doings. The usual club race was field on Saturday iu a moderate to light northerly. There were six starters and the course was a lap longer than usual as the trophy raced for was the Speirs Cup. Pastime and Spitfire were first away with lomiti. each, but Spitfire sailed a poor race, her mainsail setting badly and the boat generally like an obstinate log of wood. On this account Pastime soon took the lead even without a spinnaker. Results and finishing times were: —I’ustinie, 4hr. 21 min. 25sec„ 1 ; Ngaroma, 4hr. 21mru. 53 see., 2; Demon, -Ihr. 22min. 20sec, 3. Sunday was a good day, n fresh southerly breeze driving the boats well .iv«r a smooth sen. The women’s■ race, will he held next Sunday• (weather permitting?, and several of the competitors were'out last Sunday trying their skill against the fresh squalls.