With the Yachts

Evening Post, Volume CVII, Issue 82, 5 April 1924, Page 18

With the Yachts

REVIEW OR SEASON -,

SOME LESSONS LEARNED

THE LOCAL ASSOCIATION.

(By " Maiksail."),

The yachting season is now almost at an end, and it i 3 an appropriate time to look bacl^upon the activities of the sport in Wellington during the past few months and note in what respects it' has / been an outstanding year. From at'least two points of view, it has been an exceptional season, for it has seen the handing over of the control of the annual regatta to the Wellington Yacht and Mot^r-boat Association, a fact which haß greatly increased the importance and functions of that body; and it has- also witnessed the contest for the' first time in local waters for the Blue Ribbon yachting event of the year in New Zealand, lhese two functions ■ have done a good deal to further the interests of the sport in Wellington, a,nd still more may be done through the experience gained as a. result o£ them,. Some of the lessons learnt during-the past season were pointed out by the chairman of the association (Mr. W. Duncan) in the course of a review of the season this week. Dealing first of all with the regatta, he pointed out that lv P ee, c.ss of the regatta had justified the handing over of the management or that event to the association. The prizes were very liberal, and the programmo was designed to attract all classes of craft. It was apparent, however, that more helpers and more, officials would be ■ needed if the association was always to make the most of the .annual -regatta. Instead of one judge, tliere should \ be three, one eaclr- for keel, yachts, small boats, and motor : boats, and there should also be separate starters and' handicappers. .Another lesson was that the association'executive was too - small. Two delegates from each club -were enough to do the spade work of running the"' re-'----gatta, but when it came to the actual management on the day rnpre officials, were necessary. The most interesting event of this year's regatta—the race for the Johnston prize between 14-footers ' -^was very keen, and . apparently the ' course and other arrangements gave satisfaction to the visitors. For the sake of spectators, something, might be done next year by way of providing novelty •events within view of the wharves -between and during the progress of Ion"----races, when it appeared interest in the events flagged. The entries for motorboat events-were satisfactory, but could have been^improved upon. Financially,the regatta was a success, for not outstanding debts remained to be cleared, off. If future contests are managed carefully, by a larger. executive and au active working committee, there is no reason why -the annual "regatta should not again assume the importance it held decades ago, when it was the day of the year in Wellington. .

THE SANDERS CUP.

Alluding to the Sanders Cup contest', " which- was held .during the same week as the regatta, Mr. DuncSiv recalled the peculiar and .unusual w«ather conditions that prevailed. Easterly, westerly.' ■southerly, and northerly winds' were experienced, and sometimes there was not even a puff in the air—conditions that were most exceptional in one week' in Wellington, "and which, made the. Sailing Committee's work somewhat difficult in ' choosing courses. Nevertheless, the racing was very interesting, and there was no doubt that the best "boat won: Some better understanding would have to be arrived at between the provinces, commented Mr. Duncan, in respect to the conduct of the races. Every sportsman liked to,see rivalry, but he deplored the spirit ofeouth against north that was apparent 'during the contest. 'It seemed to be a matter of south up against Auckland, the holders of the Cup, right through, with Wellington in what might be termed a neutral role. That spirit was not to be encouraged^ Mid it was to be hoped it would disappear with the settlement of all points of dispute as to the design of ..the standard boat for the races. If petty jealousy could be eliminated, the Cup contests would become' perhaps the most interesting iiiterprovincial sporting event in the Dominion. It was apparent that a .change would.have to ba made in tho method of managing the Cup racing, and he considered a larger committee of officials should be appointed by the Do- ' minion Council,. relieving the judges of a great deal of the work they did under the present arrangement. It was undesirable for "delegates to participate in the races. . , ■'

SUPPORT FOR THE ASSOCIATION.

It. was open to question, continued the chairman, whether affiliated clubs interested themselvesksufficiently in the. doings of. the1 association, and ho advised that delegates appointed to the association executive., should be men who could attend the meetings, and that they should be -required to give account to their clubs of association affairs. 'Ho doubted whether clubs kept-sufficiently' in touch with' association' activities, through their delegates, and that might explain the unsatisfactory financial position of the association* in regard to the Sanders Cup fixture. The association had to clear off about £30 in debts arising out >of the contest, / and' that . amount would have to be defrayed' by ' levy on the clubs.

The. , encouragement of the sport amongst the younger members of clubs was also referred to by the chairman, who pointed out "that that was the oriai.nal object of the donors of the Sanders Cup. In spite of that aim the- majority of the members of crews this year were men well on in years. The boys in the Rona had clearly established 'their superiority over the older hands. He also suggested that youiigr crews for next seay' son should be .picked as soon as possible and trained. With a final word ; in regard to clubs supporting the association, Mr. Duncan concluded with the hope that the sport would benefit still further iw&t season. . ' • . - .

Admiral Sir Dndley de Chair, the new Governor of !Ne\v South Wales, has wonIns way into the hearts/of the people by his spontaneous admiration of sport, especially the sport, of the seas. Among the, many addresses of welcome presented him in Sydney was one from the Rbyal Prince Alfred Yacht Club, through the commodore, Mr. .Alfred MiJson, and the vice-commodore, Mr. Dnvid Carment. To this the Governor made a happy response: "I shall indeed be grateful if I am permitted to identify myself with the sport- of yachting; "which naturally appeals- to one who has spent so much of his life on the water. With the facilities existing in Poet Jackson, it would .be almost impossible to resist'the temptation to participate in this fine and manly sport. I hope you will look upon me as a brother yachtsman. I anticipate spending many happy hours en "the magnificent sheet of water which add 3 so much to the charm of living, in.this old historic home." Admiral Sir.fiudley de Chair thus follows the example of Lord Forster, a sportsman of wide tastes, with a special predeliction to the sports of the seas.