YACHTING

Evening Post, Volume CXV, Issue 11, 14 January 1933, Page 18

YACHTING

by "Mainsail" CRUISES OVER

YACHTSMEN RETURN

CLUB RACING AGAIN

Club racing was resumed at Paremata last week-end, in a strong southerly blow which tested skippers and crews alike. Seven boats took part in the handicap-for first-class centreboarders: Kewpie (B£mins), Indolence, Kuini, Kotuku, Putorino (3*mins), Peggy (ljmins), and Miss Josephine (scratch). Prom the start is could be seen that the Kewpie was going to be hard to catch, -and such proved the case as she maintained her lead to the finish. Hoisting her "kite" at Shearer's Buoy,, she simply flew up the channel, opening a gap of half a mile before the next boats started. Of the next four boats away, the Kuinij Kotuku, and Putorino made a great race of it to Grey's Buoy, v which was rounded in the following, order: Kewpie, Putorino, Kuini and Kotuku (together), Peggy, aiid Miss Josephine; The Indolence, which was reefed right down, had been steadily falling back, and withdrew from the Tace before reaching Grey's. On the slog back to Bradey's the back-markers commenced to move up on Kewpie, the Kuini going into second position, with the Kotuku third. These positions were maintained until the boats came on. the: wind in the channel, when the Peggy, with a remarkable burst of speed, passed the Kotuku and Kuini in quick succession, and was gaining rapidly on the Kewpie •when the finishing line was reached. Tho Kuini was a close third, with Miss Josephine fourth. In the handicap for second-class centreboarders, Bill Pycroft's Tui showed a return to form, winning handsomely from the lanthe, with the Oreroa third. A further series of Takapuna trials . was held on Sunday, after which the local selector, Mr. A. Sterling, announced the crew to represent Porirua Harbour in the forthcoming Cornwell Cup contest at Lyttelton. They will be Robert Parkin (skipper and Jack Coleman. The Ocean Race.' Further details of the KvP.N.Y.C. ocean race to Jackson's Bay show that the visibility was eo_ poor during the night that the Muritai anchored in Worser Bay and the Rawene returned to Evans Bay until the morning. The Isea (60min) started at 8.45 p.m., the Atalanta_ (scr) at 10;15, and the Annetta (45min), which won,the Seabird Cup for Evans Bay, at 11.5. The Atalanta, which had won the cup twice previously, arrived first at Jackson's Bay at 6 a.m.; the Isca, following at 6.45 and the Annetta at 7.20. , Auckland's Challenger. The Idler, which will represent Auckland at -the Sanders Cup contest, is over twelve years old, but has not done a great deal of racing. Until the present season she has not been afloat for seven years. The Auckland Association has decided not to support "Wellington's remit, which provides that only Rona-Jellicoe boats conforming to the 1923 plans be eligible to compete. The remit submitted by Otago, providing for the. substitution of a V-bottom type of boat, 18ft overall, sft 9in beam, lft Bin depth, and carrying 140 square feet of sail, in place of the present 14----footers, was not approved, but it was left to the delegates to vote as they thought fit, after hearing the views of the southern associations. ; Worser Bay Club. \ The first race of the New Year, for the Pennsylvania Cup, was sailed off :at Worser Bay last Saturday, in a light southerly, over a long course in- ; eluding "Blinking Billie." Very little ■windward work was necessary, and this, accompanied by a start of lomin, enabled the Victory to secure her first win. She was sailed quite well, however. Second was the O.K. Baby, and sporting a jib (she is a Takapuna), was only lOsec behind fastest time, made by the Demon, which found a third place. Tho wind unfortunately dropped away, and . certainly exaggerated the lead of the placed boats* Spinnakers were used to distinct advantage. Finishing times were:—Victory (lomin), 3hr 52min, 40sec, 1; O.K. Baby (6min), 3.52.40, 3. . Also started: Result (scr), 3.59.40; Lady Grace (4min), 4.0.40; Kiwi (3min), 4.3.4; Butterib ,(2min), 4.4.25; Sea Mew (7min), 4.4.40. A new Idle-Along class boat is expect- [ ed to be in the water next week, and . there are two more definitely under con- . struction. ; Notes. • The strange position of two boats be- . ing named to represent one province i in the Sanders Cup races lias occurred i over Southland's nomination. The Val has been nominated by Invercargill, reports "Otago Daily Times." The two local clubs formed an association without reference to Stewart Island, and have- nominated the Val. On the other ; hand, Stewart Island has always been the recognised body at all previous con- . tests, and has sent in its challenge, which has been recommended for acceptance. The Stewart Island Club has named the Rona as its representative, and there is a deadlock. The matter bas been left for tho Dominion Confer- > ence to decide. A Formidable Combination. A southern writer says it has been proved beyond a doubt that George ', Brassell, who has been selected to sail the Avenger in defence of the Sanders 1 Cup, is the most skilful skipper of small sailing boats in Canterbury. Prior'to the last contest at Wellington many ! of the older hands in yachting circles , were very doubtful about Canterbury's chances with the Avenger, seeing that the boat had such a young, skipper and ' crew, but during one of the hardest contests to date Brassell proved that he was . too much for the older and more experienced men competing against him. Although it was the first occasion on which he had sailed a boat in the contest his uncanny judgment and ability to make up his mind when in a seemingly hopeless position showed him to be the most outstanding man in the contest. In the recent series of trials Brassell won five out of six and astonished Lyttelton yachtsmen by defeating the Avenger in ono race Jn a boat which was considered the slowest of those taking part. Sanders Cup Week. ™ The yachtsmen and delegates visiting Lyttelton for the Sanders Cup contest will be given a civic reception by the Mayors of Lyttelton and Christchurch at noon on Tuesday, 31st January, and the Dominion Confcrenco will open the same afternoon. Tentative arrangements have- been made for the first race to take place on Wednesday, Ist February. A dance, a smokeconcert, and a motor run are among tho entertainments planned for the visitors. On Saturday, 4th February, tho Canterbury Sailing and Power-Boat Association's regatta will be held.