YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXIII, Issue 48, 26 February 1927, Page 22

YACHTING

•* 'Mainsail. 1 OUTCLASSED

LOCAL BOATS IN THE SOUTH

TRIBUTE TO THE BETTY

A Wellington yachtsman who recently returned from Lyttelton, says that he is voicing the opinion of other local . yachtsmen when he states that it will be useless for Wellington to send any " of her present boats. Sout], for the next : Sanders Cup contest. v He ' considers ■ that they will be hopelessly outclassed.Another opinion is that, while the ." two Wellington one-designers certainly/. I did not show up to advantage, it carnot be said that they would be outclassed when sailing with boats of their own.; measurements. The fact that the Wei-: lesley and the All Black only took part in one race under strange conditions (their skippers^not being at home oa the course) cannot be tajceri as a criterion of what they could do in a contest such as that for the Sanders Cup when ' e H fi° Uv? Ces may be held t0 decide the finalists. Ocean Race to the lolanthe. v^fU^ aK the 1 Port Nicholsoa Yacht Club's ocean race to Port UnovrJl°d, and I back ' which was de«ded over last week-end, was sailed in light, patchy weather which completely, robbed the event of the interest that is shown when moderate conditions preJh • T^ fault seems to lie-in thechoice of the date for the race. ! Look-" ing back at the conditions for previousocean races,. "Mainsail" finds that almost invariably the event has become a.'" dnftmg match: from which the entrants' have returned late on the Monday fol- 1' £wing the start. It is understood that" February is chosen on account of theprevalence oj fine weather, but while these conditions are very desirable, sureiy a date later in the season when a descent breeze may be assured woi»d be' preferable? Inthe past, the compel £c daW f^V^* thV^ are: not fc be daunted by bad weather, «tnd tho': race, m any case, is a test ofsekm^;: Nsl«H n thf Seabird,' Windward, and ■as Zfstsrs&srsg back and her owner had perforce to A Well-Deserved Win. :

SiPi. mmm Champion of Canterbury^ ' Wsiimm. »w J t^ l ; bre«c freshened coisS ably, and both the Wellington-.-"h£iE-course sailed on this harbour by^lSft fshW IS tag<V-mthevery Puff, astonsS «S- VlSlt^ g 7 ach^ e n, W ith her.: after ■*£? f ef hei?y:qualities, Soo* somettwg. wrong .with: the AllBlack, as; dp was falling back every; moment; and afr the beginning of the second ; round; she withdrew;. 1 ■ The trouble wag inexplicable, as everything seemed to be in order/ although' it was thought thaj the plat* was »little bent • and haa put the boat off her balanced As the plate was hard to. puU but,: thiipossibly . was: the canse . of • theipooEshowing. The -Wellesley; meanwhilft, J had; carried on, but. although -she pass^; ed the lona and drew level with the'; Linnet at• one stage, she could not-' catch the leaders finished fifth,: being beaten, by the Betty, the: Usher, the Linnet, and the ' lona, in' that order. ■ Evans Bay Jottings; • ' ■'-■•'■'■•'i'l: The Wai-iti is due to return fromth« Sounds this week-end. • • •:,; Club races for centreboarders and keelers are being held this afternoon. The keelers will contest the: ocean race, to ' Sinclair Head and back. - Last, year's winner, was the Wairere I. (Mr. -Ci Holmes),, who is now on the slip, being; burnt off. She was taken up primarily, to check a leak in her rudder post and > to be .tightened up generally. "' ■:. ? Mr. J. Hutchesgn's launch is ' stilt" away on a holiday in the Sounds. •'.... Up to the present time the ballast rule (No. 10) has not been strictly adhered to in the club, but in the future all owners will have to have their ballast trimmed by 9 p.m. on the Wednesday. ' previous to ttts day of the race. AH alterations must be notified to the racing secretary. Boats not observing this rule will be liable to disqualifies!* ~ tion. It is understood that the handicaps are not made up until liridayi night, and it is suggested that the time' laid down in the rule could be extended: to the same evening, providing the handicapper is notified of anydisplacemen'fi of ballast. The rule in the'Heretaung'i Club, which is devoted mainly to centreboarders, is that owners have until midnight on Friday ...to'notify ctiange .of i ballast. This |ives both owners and handicappor ample time before the race. The Linnet Changes^Hands. '}

The 22-foot keeler Linnet has ■ beea purchased by Mr. V. G. Bpulton frbift Mr. R. L. Button, and is to be raced again after a long spell. She was built by Mr.iE. Bailey in 1908 for a Mr. Ward, of Wellington, arid was late'i;' sold to Mr. C. Neal, owner of the Viola*In 1920, Mr. Tringham, owner of the, Galatea, purchased the yacht, after*? wards selling her/to Mr. Button. . Hhqt races under the R.P.N.Y.C. colours. ■ Notes. '.-.■, ; ; ■ ■'■[-■''>■'..- It is rumoured that the Sanders Cup winner and Canterbury champion, Betty has. been sold to an Otago" yachtsman. '' The trouble taken by officials of; the" Union Company to see that the Wellesley and the All Black came to no harm on their trip to Lyttelton and back, has been favourably commented upon byfe those who went iSouthmth the boats*