With the Yachts

Evening Post, Volume CIV, Issue 150, 22 December 1922, Page 22

With the Yachts

CHRISTMAS CRUISING LULL IN LOCAL EVENTS SANDERS CUP TRIALS. ( (By " Mainsail.")' Wellington is the only province that has so far definitely' selected its .challenger for the Sanders' Cup. There -was really no necessity for a hasty decision, as the challengers need not be named till Bth January, but the local tests were much more conclusive. thaD those in the other centres, and the association had no doubt, in deciding against, a fourth race, that Eynin was the best boat Wellington could offer. Some yachtsmen maintain that it would be wiser and fairer to the other two nominees if a further'series'of tests was sailed. The preparation of the selected boat for dispatch to Auckland has.to.be taken into account, however, and as this will take a couple, of weeks,, there is not much time left'for further tests. • The crew of Eynin,' good combination as they are, could do with al) the training they can get in, but they will be able to settle down, to work again' when their boat is cleaned up and fitted with new rigging- .'. ■ ' ■ ' • - The other provinces are busily ' engaged in selecting their representatives. The second race for the selection of the*. Auckland defender was sailed last Saturday, when the Governor-General's boat Iron Duke scored a win over her opponents, Joan and Rona, after a closely-contested race. A third-race was commenced on the same afternoon, but the wind died down, and, as the contestants made no headway for the next half-hour, the officials called the race off. The first test, which took place oik" the previous Saturday, resulted in a d£?" cisive win for Rona. Disappointment is expressed in Auckland that Desert Gold, ■ which captured the pup for Auckland last "year, is not available;'her owners cannot see their way to race her before Anniversary Day. Five tests.have been bailed in pu'nedin,' but the 'last proved , unsatisfactory, arid the actual winner has not been decided. Winifred has two • firsts, and a se&m'd to' her credit, Heather a first and a..third, Mona a first, lona a second' and "two thirds,' Agnes and ■Eunice a second each, and. ; Valmai a third.' Eunice wa? first home in the last race -sailed,' with Valmai second, Mona third, and Winifred fourth, but is is." alleged' that • Eunice ' il*. legally collided witlv Valmai..- It is intended to hold seven tests. . Linnet -, which was eliminated from last year's contest at Dunedin in the semi-final, is sure to represent Canterbury. The Napier boat has not, been built yet, and it is stated that negotiations have been in progress for the purchase of a boat from Auckland. No advice is to hand as to the challenger from Stewart Island, but Murihiku will probably be the representative. ■ ■.-.. .. Eynin, Wellington's, challenger for the Sanders. Cup, is already, high and'dry undergoing her toilet for the coming contest. , She is being painted at Petone, and will not be-in the water for about a fortnight-. A new set. of Lapthorne ratsey sais has been acquired for her, ,and she'is to be rigged with cotton rope. The c'rew_are meanwhie, trainingl-on Poneke, which is also carrying the new "gging,; so that it may be thoroughly; stretched "by the. time Eynin is ready. When th boat is launched again—she should be ready by New Year's Dayshe will be immediately fitted out, and will, make, daily runs,' weather permitting, until she is'sent North. Guarantees towards,the expenses of sending her away have been made by two of the local _ clubs, .and. the association is depending upon public donations for making up the balance of the £80 or' £90 required. ■ . ! ' • Yachtsmen are now preparing for their holiday cruiseß. Mr. G. Jackson's auxiliary yacht Psyche. went into the water early in the week, and Mr. Jackson, at time of writing, was hoping to leave this week for, the Sounds. He> intends to spend Christmas Day in Ship's Cove. Wanderer, also' of tEe Evans Bay fleet, is lying at her moorings, but is not yet ready for cruising, as much remains' to be done to her before she will be in commission. Romp and White Heather will leave for their annual Sounds cruise towards the end of February. Of 4he Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club's fleet; Ailsa, Kotiri IT., Rona, • Marangi, arid Galatea, are bound for Pelorus Sound, D'Urville Harbour, and Nelson; -while Windward, Rawene, Isca, Ata'lanta; gnd Viola will be leaving- shortly for Queen Charlotte Sound and vicinity. Mr. Mark Steeds has offered a valuable # prize for the winner of a race for visiting yachts, to be • held at Ngakutu Bay, near Picton, and the "R.P.N.Y. Club will have the running of the contest. • There are.no local racing fixtures till after :New. Year, and the harbour should be-pi-actically empty of sailing craft for the next three weeks. The Evans "Bay Club; has handicap races set down' for 13th January, also the Port- Nicholson Motor-Boat Club, and in the following week the R.P.N.Y. Club will resume its fixtures. Preparations are now in hand for the regatta on Anniversary Day, 22rid January. ■ The newly-formed Wanganui MotorBoat and Sailing Club opened its season on Saturday last: The club ig anxious to encourage young blood, and it is expected that as a result of their enterprise - many new boats will be added' to the Wanganui fleet. Later on the club hopes to be able to send some oT its craft to other parts of the Dominion to compete in some of the big events. >;

A solid silver cup has been presented to the' Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadr ron by Lord Jellicoe. The conditions governing the cup have not been drawn up. ' His Excellency, however, has stipulated that it must be a challenge cup, for competition among junior racing members of the s.quadrcn. The cup is a very handsome one, and takes.the form of a rose bowl.

An ambitious move is in contemplation by a syndicate in Melbourne (Australia) to place an order with a Melbourne builder for the construction of a boat which will conform to the requirements of the new 6-metre rule. Already two shares of £250 each have been taken up in the syndicate, and within the next few -weeks it is noped to realise £850, which will be the cost of fitting out the new boat. Commenting on the project; a yachting authority in Sydney states that this price seems to be remarkably low;in'view of the fact that boats, of the 6-metre class built in England are estimated'to cost from £1000 to £1200, while it is believed that the Awanui cost Mr. Saxton oyei<. £2250 to build in Sydney. The building of a 6-metre boaKiif the Victorian capital is taken by Sydney enthusiasts as an indication that that State will shortly reappear with a challenge for the Northcoto. Cup, which was lost to Mr. "Saxton's" boat some years ago. Victorians claim that they would, have a greater chance of regaining the cup with a new boat than by putting, up anything already, afloat. Awanui was laid down before the new international 6-metre rule came irito effect, and 1 it r is claimed that her measurements are somewhat greater than is permissible nowadays.