YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 28, Issue 33, 2 November 1934, Page 15

YACHTING

Monotype Racing In New Zealand NOTES AND COMMENTS (By “Spinnaker.”) An interesting presentation took place at the Civil Service Club recently, when A. Waddel, of Plimmerton, owner and sailer ol Torment, received the cup presented by the club for the monotype championship of the Wellington district. Last season watt the first in which it hail been competed for. The Monotype Ideals, Racing by monotypes—one tnau, one boat, one sail—is something quite new to New Zealand, excepting the sevenfooters, of course, whose’crews are usually only boys. To Mr. L. Waddel, father of the first-winner of the cup, must be given credit for originating the idea, and to the Civil .Service Club the thunks of tiie yachting fraternity are due for their gracious act in presenting the cup. But this is but one step in the direction of something which every yachtsman would be proud to see—-New Zealand representation in- monotype races at the Olympic Games. The excuse cannot be offered that our representatives would have had no practice in the sailing ol the monotype adopted by the Olympic Council, for “Spinnaker” has. seen the blueprints, and they approximate very closely to those of the popular Takapuna boat, The expense would be 'Comparatively dmall, for there would be no need for gear of any sort to be taken, as all boats and equipment are standardised, and suppiieii by the country in which, the games are held. Another Presentation.

Another cup presented at the gathering referred to above was that for the Idle Along class. championship, presented by Mr. F C. Holmes. This was won by the Worse'r Bay boat Pukeko,-which was sailed to victory last season by A.'J. Dean in a howling northerly gale in Woracr Bay. The popularity the Idle Along class yachts have achieved in the past two or three seasons is a great tribute to. their designer, Mr. Jiarvey. In the flourishing Worsen Bay Club there is now practically no other type of boat to be seen; Heretaunga’s quota is steadily increasing, and Evans. Bay has more than ever before, with several more in course ot construction. • ' , p- ; These little boats, only 12ft. (Jin. in length, but with a beam of Oft., have time and again demonstrated'their seawortinness in weatEer which has centreboarders on their cradles, lhe last two seasons the championship race has been sailed in Worser Bay in thc-dirties: of weather, but the percentage/ot casualties in each case has been small. The Original Club-house!

' The president of the Evans Bay Club raised many a reminiscent-smile atriong the older generation at. the opening ceremony of that club when he mentioned that he had been a member since the sec-, ond'general meeting, when the club was barely a month old, “I well-remember our first opening day,” he said. “We had no jetty no club-house, and no money-4iothing but our boats and our enthusiasm. We gathered in a body at that point just south ■of the. club-house where there happened to bo an old disused fish-cart. On this we climbed and from it were made the first speeches of dur first opening day regatta.” • ;