A YACHTING POINT

Dominion, Volume 26, Issue 69, 14 December 1932, Page 10

A YACHTING POINT

Interpretation of Rule A number of yacht owners of the Royal Port Nicholson Club intimated to the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor-boat Association last evening that they would not be competing in the Anniversary Day regatta, as a strict interpretation of a rule, that all members of crews taking part in races under the association’s jurisdiction must be financial members of a club affiliated to the association, would mean that crews would be liable for disqualification. This, it was implied, meant that boats would run the risk of disqualification if they took out visitors, which was the usual practice on Anniversary Day. The chairman, Mr. O. A. Moller, said that he could not see where the risk of disqualification came in. There was nothing to prevent the yachtsmen taking visitors with them, providing they did not assist in the sailing. They trusted to the honour of the yachtsmen. If anyone could show him where the boats could be disqualified, he would take steps to have the rule altered. Mr. B. Darroch (Port Nicholson club) said that for years yachtsmen on Anniversary Day had taken out people who had been connected with the sport, and others, as members of the crew. The Anniversary Day regatta had always been an open one, and the rule appeared to be a rule to stop it. The chairman said that that was never thought of. The rule was not original; it was cribbed from another club where it had worked well. If the sport was to be conducted by any but rafferty rules, they had to insist thqt those sailing boats were financial members of an affiliated club. Mr. Moller then made arrangements to visit Port Nicholson club, and explain the rule in full.