TRANS-TASMAN YACHT

Evening Post, Volume CXI, Issue 70, 24 March 1931, Page 8

TRANS-TASMAN YACHT

RACE

(To the Editor.)

Sir,—As one interested in the trans-Tas-man yacht race, and also in local yachting, I notice that the details given in connection with the New Zealand yacht Rangi, which is one of the competitors, are somewhat meagre, and therefore the following information concerning our only competitor will doubtless be of interest to your readers. Tho Rangi was built by Messrs. Bailey and Lowe, Auckland, in 1905, and her dimensions are: Length, 3Sft; beam, 10ft 4in; draught sft 9in. She has between three and four tons of lead ou her keel, and also carries about three-quarters of I a ton inside lead ballast. She has been j quoted as being a sister ship to the White j Heather, a one-time Wellington-owned! boat, but I understand that this is not] so, although she was on the stocks^ at Bailey and Lowe's yard at the same time i as the Rangi. i While on the topic of yachting, might I draw your attention to newspaper headings often seen in connection with yacht-1 ing news, which read "Yachts capsize."^ These headings are not correct, as it is almost impossible to capsize a proper yacht, for the reason that they have lead keels, and are uncapsizable. The boats 'that have been making a habit of capsizing recently arc the small centreboard boats which were known to tho older generation as "half-deckers," etc., and certainly not yachts. I mention these facts.so that those of tbe public not versed in nautical matters, and who may be concerned as to' the welfare of the three yachts taking part in the race to Australia may be enlightened. It' would be' impossible to capsize any one of them, unless its^keel fell off, which is highly improbable. Personally, I am of the opinion- that they will arrive safely,.with possibly Rangi in tho first place. In view of recent events I feel justified in drawing your attention to the above matters.—l am, etc., i POP. I