YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 148, 20 December 1930, Page 22

YACHTING

BY 'MAINSAIL" CHRISTMAS RACE TO TORY CHANNEL CONDITIONS OUTLINED The approach of Christmas, although far from obvious to yachtsmen ia view of the weather prophet's performances, brings talk of the Sounds, and the topics on the hard are limited to fitting out for the cruise, what the tides aro going to bo, when the ocean race will start, how many boats are crossing the "roughest stretch of water in the world," and like matters. Entries have already closed for the Christmas race to Tory Channel. Entrants may start at any time between 5 p.m. and 8 p.m. The. actual times of starting at Wellington and finishing at Jackson's Bay on the other side will be taken, and handicaps will then bo adjusted. The allowances, by the way, will be announced early next week by;Handicapper Shelton. While numerous enough to be encouraging to Racing Secretary Mills and his committee, the starters will,probably be fewer than last yean The Shamrock will remain at her moorings, the Windwarel will be cruising elsewhere, and the Bona is expected to go across this week-end for an extended stay. Most of the other boats will participate, and will then scatter to resorts in tho Sounds especially favoured by their skippers. The A'ilsa and the Galatea are mentioned as likely to go on to Nelson if winds are favourable,, while the Wairere. 11. and several other boat% may visit tho Pelorus. Here they will probably meet tho largo yacht Restless, which left the Boat Harbour two weeks ago. Owners of boats entered in tho race are reminded that their vessels should be ready not later than Tuesday to receive the Board of Examiners appointed by the club, who will insist that everything is made shipshape and seaworthy, and that adequate stores are carried. Mr. James Jackson is official judge and timekeeper at the other end, and the winning boat, in addition to holding the Seabird Cup, will receive a cash prize donated by residents of the Sounds and augmented by a donation of .€5 5s each from the R.P.N.Y.C., and the Evan's Bay Y. and M.B.C. May fair weather follow all the boats on their annual cruise. Plimmerton Notes. The week-end racing' does not seem to interfere with the steady progress on tho club's pavilion, which has been under construction for some time, zealous workers pausing only for a. few moments now and then to -view a raco in progress. The ladies, with: their afternoon tea, always lend very substantial support to their carpenters. Opening day for the pavilion draws steadily nearer, while the energy of the workers never seems to wane. Tho commodore (Mr. Mildenhall), w' is well fitted to superintend the construction work, has also under his control a sailing fleet of fourteen first and second class boats, and he hopes that one day he will see all the boys with their boats afloat and under sail at. one and tho same time. At a later date the club proposes to publish its register of sailing boats and owners. The speedboat Happy Day, owned by P. Beals, is a recent addition to the club's register, and there is still plenty of room for more boats. Last Sunday's tempting weather found the Opawa, Minnehaha,' Wynne, Tui, and tho Sea Gnat cruising in tho vicinity of the reefs, the Se: Gull J with her crew of four young lads, paying a visit to Bar Bay. '" They must have onjyed the run l.oin with a free sheet in the afternoon. The time spent last winter in refitting the Opawa is bringing her skipper its reward, for she is showing an increased turn of speed, which may yet puzzle the handicapper. Tho club has received a large and very attractive picture of the Nancy, which will one day adorn the wall of the .clubhouse. Worser Bay Club. It was intended to hold a race last Saturday, and the limit boats were soon away with full sail, but the wind quickly roso in strength and every boat reefed down except the Kiwi, which has a new sail. The wind was very gusty, sufficiently so to capsize the Ngaroma, which encountered a heavy whit* squall. The Spitfire and the O.K. Baby withdrew, thinking the raee off, but the Demon and the Kiwi continued to fight it out on their own. The Kiwi was carrying full said and three up, and the Demon had two reefs down and two of a crew. With this sail and crew both boats were well matched; and it was proved beyond doubt that by reefing down a boat loses none of its speed on the wind in a blow. Planing down to the finishing line, .the Kiwi had a lead of about 5 yards. The Demon had set a jib as a spinnaeker and-with an. off-shore • squall -capsized a few" feet from the line. The race was called off, and will be sailed this afternoon. An ideal southerly on Sunday provided a« perfect sailing breeze, and it is to be regretted tl/t. Wellington is not favoured with a few more winds of this kind. The breeze certainly dropped towards evening, but it precedes, it is hoped, many more like wiuds. With such a day every boat in Wellington should have been out; all the.boats in Worser Bay took advantage of it. Racing at Pafemata. The breeze had fallen very light and patchy when the racing commenced at I'aremata on Sunday. First and second class handicaps were held, results, with actual sailing times, being given below: First-class Centreboarders. Miss Josephine (scr), Thr 49min 38 soc 1 Kotuku 11. (scr), lhr 51min 19sec 2 Peggy (2mins), lhr 56min 39see .. 3 Kuini (scr), lhr 59min 36sec ...... 4 Kewpie (Smins.) and Kia Ora also started. By tho time Moorhouse buoy was reached the Miss Josephine and Kotuku 11. had closed up on the leading boats, and on tho short beat to Brown's Kotuku 11. took the lead, closely followed by tho Miss Josephine. . The race now resolved itself into a duel between these two boats, tho Kotuku LT. slightly increasing her margin on the run to Grey's buoy. On the final beat down the channel, however, she was out-manoeu-vred by the Miss Josephine, M'Kenzie wisely electing to work the eastern shore out of the tide. This stood him in good stead, the Miss Josephine weathering the Kotuku. 11. at Shearer's point, anel going on to win by over a minute. The Peggy finished well back third, but was eventually placed second, tho Kotuku 11. being disqualified for fouling the mark buoy in .brown's Bay. Second-class Handicap. ' Mairo (Omiu), lhr 40min 36sec .... 1 Tui (scr), lhr 39min 22see) 2 Arahiwi (lomin) 3 Also started: AVallaby. The light breeze suited the Maire admirably, and she roon went to the front, looking a winner all the way. Sho crossed the line smins. ahead of tho Tui, with the Arahiwi several minutes further back in third position. The Wallaby lost her handicap through running aground soon after the start, and thereafter was never in the hunt.