YACHTING NOTES

Evening Star, Issue 18173, 13 January 1923, Page 14

YACHTING NOTES

[By Olive Branch.]

Last, week-end was suitable weather to lest the capabilities of our yachts and motor boats, tho wind being fresh from tho north-east. Very few launches turned up on Saturday to assist tho Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club in carrying out tho annual picnic for tho children in the- different orphanages about Dunedin. If in future such poor support in the wav of providing launches is to be given to the club, it will bo advisable to erase this function from tho Yacht Club syllabus. The manner in which l the children were treated by tho good folks of Broad Bay was splendid, and' tho toys gave very great satisfaction to tho youngsters. Commodore Moller proved to be the right man in the right place, and was ably assisted by bis committeemen. The next iseries of races on the Yacht Club’s syllabus is on January 20. The general handicap for yachts and the two motor boat races -arc over the usual dub courses, but a change is to bo made in the course for the 14ft one design dass, with tho object of giving the public a closer view of the contestants. Mr T. TTarridgo has been entrusted with tho task of laying out a course suitable to tho contestants and tho public alike. It is probable that Mr Harridge will select a. triangular course, somewhat similar to the one over which tho last tost for the Sanders Cup was sailed, cutting out tho Anderson Bay pocket. The Winifred, which is now the property of tho Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, is getting a good overhaul. Air T. Bolton ha.s made a good job of the painting, and Mr Kellett has rove a new set of halyards and- attended to all her running gear. Mr M’Pherson has made another rudder in case of emergencies, and has packed her in the case that carried the Ilea then to- and from Auckland two year's ago. Tho Holm-dale carries Invito Wellington, whence she will bo railed to Auckland.

It is probable that tbo delegates from tho different provinces who will bo in Auckland during tho .Sanders Cup contest will have tho opportunity of deciding the type of boat that will be eligible to compete in future contests. To the person who is strictly in favor of a one-design it may bo interesting news that some of onr present 14-footers have decreased in length; some have gained, while ihe beam of six of them is under sft 9in (the beam allowed, to which some of them wore built), whilo the camber of the- keel ha.s increased in nearly every yacht. By this yon can see. that a strictly one,-design limit is just about impossible. Messrs 11. E. Mollor, G. W. Sundstrum, and- R. G. Miller, the Otago -delegates, can be relied upon for fair judgment at this all-im-portant meeting. Mr R. Cahill and family are living in their crib down the bay. Boh reports good weather and plenty of fishing. Dr Moody's new launch Aotca is hack in J. MThcrson's shed, having a few minor alterations done to her hull and reverse gear.

Dr CotlereH Is tho latest recruit in motor boating, 110 has secured Dr T. Harrison's launch, and installed a motor car engine. She shows a fine turn of speed. At the committee meeting of tho Otago Yacht (Hub held last Tuesday evening it was decided to try and purchase sufficient sleepers and. rails to lay down, two more lengths of lino to accommodate about six more craft in their winter quarters. This is a step in tho right direction, and the committee’s action will bo endorsed by all those who have been unable to haul up during the winter months through the shortage of suitable sites.

Some action will have to be taken to prevent persons from throwing big stones over the wall at the entrance of the boat harbor, and thereby making it dangerous for craft drawing a good depth of water to navigate this narrow entrance at low tide; also the yard: arm that is used for starting the races is again broken. A dip in the briny would perhaps cure tho destructiveness of tho miscreants.