Yachting LULL IN RACING PROGRAMME

Evening Post, Volume CXXII, Issue 153, 26 December 1936, Page 7

Yachting LULL IN RACING PROGRAMME

BUT PLENTY DOING AT EVANS BAY

The racing programme having been suspended until after Christmas,-very- little sailing was done at Evans Bay last Saturday. Races postponed from earlier in the season were scheduled to be sailed off, but an insufficiency- of starters caused a further postponement. The Lauchlans Jewel was the only centreboarder prepared to start, so s~he went for a short spin up the bay on her own and tried a couple of spinnaker runs in the fresh breeze.

'For the keeler race, the Rawene was the only boat on the starting line, so she also slogged' up the bay for a short sail. Incidentally, nobody on the beach will believe that her mooring buoy was really under water when she failed to pick it up at the first attempt on her return. Of course, the Rawene has no engine with which to creep up on her buoy unawares.

A busy morning was put in on Sunday, when the launch Rio Grande was dropped back. in the water and the auxiliary ketch Pitcairn hauled out for an examination of her propeller shaft.

Before any boats could be handled, however, a quick repair job was done on the winch motor by Cyril Headland and Mick Goldsworthy. The motor was damaged a couple of weeks ago when some mischievous boys drained the cooling water off. Hauling a boat up with no water to keep the engine cool did not improve the-latter.

As arrangements are not yet completed for a ninety-nine years' lease of a mooring at Day's Bay, the yawl Muritai was not seen in her usual haunts over the weekend.

Some anxiety was felt on Sunday when it was reported that a wild sevenfooter was at large in the bay. Having bucked its young rider overboard, it dashed madly across the bay and was attempting to bite its way through the Rawene when it was rounded up by "Chook" Fowler in a large fruit case.

Dick Alexander is still giving the Jewel's new sail plenty of work, and was out again on Sunday: He reports that it is just about ready for a little light racing. , ,

The Maranui's crew were working hard to try to get away for the Sounds on Christmas Eve. They had their boat out in her first hard breeze on Sunday, and reported that she stood up well and handled easily. She certainly looked .very. well.

When Roy Stokes pulled the Aotearoa out of the water he discovered why copper paint is used on a boat's bottom. , ■ •

The Una was put in the water at last on Sunday, so quite possibly she will be racing in the New Year.

The Patsy is reported to be leaking a little, but by almost continual bailing her crew have kept her more or less afloat for over a week,; so there is* a chance that they may have time for a sail before the end of the season.

Alan Johnson has practically recovered from his indisposition, and was well enough to sail the Belvedere over to Day's Bay. He was joined there by the Riptide and the Southern Maid.

Lan Kirk has again increased his' fleet by the purchase of the Wellesley 11. He is looking for a buyer for his Idle Along, the Restless.. :