YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 31, Issue 72, 18 December 1937, Page 29

YACHTING

Idle Along Championship Draws Near KEELER ASTRAL’S DEBUT Much Ado Over Breach of Etiquette (By Spinnaker.) The next notable event in the yachting year will be the New Zealand Idle Along championship, to be sailed at Picton between December 27 and 31. Wanganui, Wellington, Nelson, Marlborough, Picton and Canterbury will send crews, making a field double the size of last year’s. The contest was first sailed in 1935-36. and was won by Tauranga, who unfortunately are unable to competf! this year. Wellington won last year, Vampire, this season’s defender, being on that occasion also the provincial representative. Last year she won all five

Vampire is a veteran boat. A. Harvey, designer of the class, built her at Heretaunga in 1932. She changed hands several times, and raced under the name of Heretauuga and Suzette, until Jack Asti II brought her to Evans Bay and gave her her present name. Since Evan Julian has owned her she lias had a notable list of successes.

Association Representatives. F. Mumford (Worser Bay) and A. Harvey (resident. Ileretaunga) will represent the Wellington provincial association at the Idle Along contest. Mumford will act as manager to the team, and Harvey as official delegate. Both men are, of course, yachtsmen of many years standing, and well versed in the administration of the sport.

Kitty Again Outstanding. Nigel Blair’s race last week-end greatly enhanced the prestige of the Sanders Cup defender, Kitty, and h'er cre.w. On a day when fortune seemed definitely against him, and extraordinarily fluky airs gave him a very satisfactory excuse for being well back in the ruck, he outsailed the field after being left behind at Point Jerningham. It was an exhibition of brainy sailing; but to win in such weather against Impudence, carefully trimmed and correctly handled, was quite out of the question. The “Imp” again proved that in light weather and smooth water she can walk away from any other boat on 1 the harbour.

Effect of WatersaiJ. Rawene’s watersail recalled the great days of scow racing at Auckland —not, of course, insinuating that Rawene has anything in common with a scow other than the watersail, but because such sails were one of the most typical features of these races.' Strictly utilitarian as they are. some of the Hauraki trading scows with their topmasts and fair canvas areas were quite speedy vessels. They were certainly a lovely sight under all sail, with a fresh breeze driving them. The actual drive of a watersail is considered by experts to be greatly overestimated. Astral Makes Her Debut.

Billy Mellor has certainly acquired a beautiful ship. Astral was out for the first time last Sunday, and, although she did not go far and had very little wind in her sails, she created an excellent impression. On the reach from Oriental Bay to Fryatt Quay she picked up a few puffs of wind, and gave a significant hint of how she could sail in moderate conditions.

Saluting Etiquette. Sight of a keeler dipping her ensign (presumably hoisted for the occasion) to a visiting warship recently recalls the great saluting controversy that took place in Auckland 25 years ago. No, “Spinnaker” was not there to see, but the thing is still sometimes discussed in the squadron rooms, and may be read in the newspaper files. It seems a certain stickler for etiquette was passing a keeler owned and skippered by a flag officer of the club and dipped his burgee. The flag officer (vice-commo-dor£_) replied by politely raising his cap, and his crew did likewise. The first member, however, was affronted by this landlubber greeting, and complained to the committee that he had not merely had his salute ignored, but had been insulted. The vice-commodore retorted that one did not dip an ensign, and he had therefore not been formally saluted. He had responded to the gesture, however, ,by another just as correct (or incorrect!) and perfectly polite. In a quandary, the committee referred the dispute to an English chib, which wrote back commendiug the vicecommodore's action, pointing out that the salute yas invalid, and saying that the proper settlement of the dispute would have been a polite exchange of notes. The yachtsmen of to-day, fortunately, have outgrown that sort of thing.

Otago's Representative. Eileen won the fifth Sanders Cup trial race at Dunedin last week-end in convincing fashion and qualified to represent Otago in the Sanders Cup. She won three races, was second in one and third in another, and there was no doubt as to her superiority. She won the cup for Otago in 1930 and has represented Otago on many occasions. During the trials her crew was as follows:—E. Cuthbert (skipper). S. Simpson (forward hand), W. Tonkinson (main sheet hand), and A. Cuthbert.