YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 68, 21 March 1931, Page 22

YACHTING

By "Mainsail"

CONDUCT OF TRIALS

DEFINITE RULES NEEDED

CHANGE OF SKIPPERS

Speaking at the social on Wednesday: evening, the Sanders Cup selector (Mr. W. Duncan) said ho thought it was wrong of tho association not to allotc lym to change the skippers about in tho trials. Commenting on this opinion, tho Betty's skipper (Mr. A. Johnston) remarked that a change of skippers would be all right if they had twelva months in which to run tho trials. A skipper needed time to get accustomed to his crow. He suggested that the skippers, owners, and experienced yachtsmen should form some sort of sailing committee and run the trials like a Sanders Cup contest. He did not think one skipper would agree to Mr. Duncan's suggestion. Later in the evening, the chairman of the associa.tion (Mr. A. W. Thompson) said that definite rules should bo laid down for tho conduct of the trials. The matter should be thoroughly discussed for next season. Kacing at Paremata. Races for each class were held at Paremata during last week-end, in * hard nor'-west blow and a moderate sea. Sis boats started in the race for first-class centroboarders: Kewpie (5 mm), Kia Ora, Peggy, and Kotuku 11. (4min), Miss Josephine and Kuini (scr). Almost every boat experienced | difficulty in the run down Brown's Bay, some exceptionally vicious squalls making the small craft almost unmanagcI able. The long beat to Gray's wo 3 covered in quick time, and spinnakers were set for the- run to Bradey's. Just before this buoy was reached, the Kewpie's spinnaker "skied" in a squall and she rolled right over, nose first, spilling her crew into the water. The race was then abandoned under tho club's ruling. ' The same boats, with the exception of the Kewpie, started in the resail, which was held on Sunday afternoon. The wind had moderated a little, and an oxeellent race resulted in the Kuini winning narrowly from the Peggy, whilst an exciting tussle for third place saw the Kotuku 11. lead the Kia Ora over the line by 12 seconds. Only three boats faced the starter for the second-class handicap: Silver Dawn (12min), Maire (6min), Tni (scr). Tho Mairo stood up well in the hard stuff and won comfortably from tho Tui, with the Silver Dawn close up third. The same boats turned out for a second race, but this was abandoned when tho Silver Dawn capsized at Bradey's Buoy. Race at Pliminerton. The handicapper was successful iit bringing about a tie for second place in last Saturday's race at Plimnierton for points for the Dalleston Shield. Though, the Opawa was well sailed she was not able to give the Colleen, with Ken Pickering in command, a handicap of llmin. This young skipper also sailed his craft well to made a dead-heat for second place. The course set for the six boats was a triangular one of two rounds to the southern buoy, tho outer reef, and Maori Bay. The Huia was led round the first buoy by the Opawa, but their positions quickly changed on. the beat to the outer reef, which was rounded in the following order: Huia, Tuakana, Opawa, Minuehaha, Colleen, Bamona. On the long stretch to Maori Bay the Huia increased her lead, and at the buoy there was only a difference of a few seconds between the Tuakana and the Opawa. On. the run to the southern buoy, the Huia with her spinnaker and tho Opawa with her big leading jib' soon left the remainder of the fleet behind. During the race the vagaries of the wind, though not all round the compass, varied from the north-east to north-west. The handicaps and the actual sailing times wera as follows: —Huia (F. Bryant), scr, lhr 48min 23sec, 1; Colleen (K. Pickering), 25min, 2hr 20inin, and Opawa (H. Thompson), 14niin, 2hr 9min, dead heat, 2; Tuakana (H. Waddel), 14min, 2hr 13min 15sec, 3; Minnehaha (G. Bedward), 16min 2hr 24min lOsec, 4. Eamona (C. Swift), 28min, did not finish. In the second-class race there wer» three starters, the Waione, Te Mare, and Baumati, but through faulty handling these boats were not able to com-" pletc the course and the race will hay» to be re-sailccl. Worser Bay Club. A race was held last Saturday by t-h« Worser Bay Club in an ideal full-sail northerly. There were eight starters, and the Demon secured her first win of the season. The Spitfire was first away with 12min, but her handicap was disappointingly small, as she was passed by practically all the boats on the first beat. She had a race of her owa with the Ngaroma. The Spitfire eventually beat the Ngaroma, and was well handled. The Hine-te-wai with lOmiu was up among the leaders for some time, but not carrying a spinnaker was unable to secure a place. The Pastime (7min) made good use of hor new sail but lost all she gained on tho run through not flying a kite. Tho Ngaru. was sailed single-handed, and quite well at that, gaining a second place. The O.K. Baby with 4min was pointing high, into the wind, but seined to lose her speed thereby, and should have been, sailed a little freer. The Demon (Imin) is usually fast in light Jiirs, and the wind throughout the race suited her. The Kiwi (scr) had spinnaker trouble apparently, finishing fourth. Finishing timers wore: Demon, 4.13.0; Ngaru, 4.15.0; O.K. Baby, 4.15.20. Also started: Kiwi, 4.17.0; Hine-te-wai, 4.20.20; Spitfire, 4.22.55; Ngaroma, 4.28.25; Pastime, 4.15.30. Tho ladies' race was to have been, held on Sunday, but the weather made it out of the question. Nearly all tha boats were out, and all reefed down except the Pastime, which, as a result, broached-to mider a squall and capsized. The Ngaroma, going to tli9 rescue, jammed her niainsheet and promptly afforded the beach another spoctaeJe. Both boats were finally towed ashore after some patient work with a. dinghy. The last race of the season is to ba held next Saturday, after -which tb» boats will be prepared for the Pareniata Begat til. Jottings. Preparations are well in hand for tho Paremata Club's Easter regatta, which this year gains interest from tho fact that four provincial championship races aro to be decided, in addition to the usual points races and handicaps. The Bona-Jellicoe championship should be well worth seeing, and a great tussle can also be expected in tho 14ft square-bilge championship. The "Idle Alongs" will race as a class for the first time, and Harvey's one-designers are bound to be closely watched in comparison with tho Takapuna class boats. The junior skippers of the Tauranga class aro also to be given tho opportunity to annex a provincial championship, and several of them are already, in hard training. Altogether, Paremata promises once more to be the yachtsman's Mecca at Easter, and the "enterprising local club is to be heartily congratulated on the splendid four-day programme it lias arranged. Mr. P. Scott .Ramsay, the popular owner of the Mnrnngi, was out on Simd;iy for tho first time since-the mishap at d'Urville Island durinf Mf New Year, aud was able to WMIV fiis boat winning the Mills Cup.