YACHTING AND BOATING

Evening Star, Issue 18502, 8 December 1923, Page 9

YACHTING AND BOATING

NOTES AND COMMENTS. [Br Flying Jib.] [Secretaries of dubs and others interested in aquatics are requested by “Flying Jib” to forward any items of news or comments to this office not later than Wednesday afternoon of each week.] ' SANDERS GUP TRIALS. Sanders Cup trials will he sailed on the following dates:—December 8 and December 15. REGATTA DATES. North-east Harbor Boating Club.—December 26 (Boxing Day). Port Chalmers Yacht Chib.—December 29 Broad Bay Boating Club.—January 1. Ravcnsbourne Boating Ciub.—February 23. SEASON CLUB RACES. Otago Yacht Club.—Orphans’ picnic, January 5; cruising race to Broad Bay, January 19; second series club races, March 8. Ravensboumo Boating Club.—First series club races, December 8; second scries club races, February 2. Port Chalmers Yacht Club.—Club races, December 1 and February 9. North-east Harbor Boating Club.—Launch race, December 15; dl-comers’ yacht race, January 5; Oliphant Cup race, March 22. It is quite evident that some ill-feeling is alrcacfy being shown by a certain section interested in the Sanders Cup trials. The letters which have appeared in the local newspapers this week are proof of this. The writer of one letter states that lona should not have been eliminated from tho trials, and that Heather should have been deleted. I say without any hesitation that this writer is either biased or does not know what lie is talking about when he suggests that Heather should be dropped out of tho trials, and I am confident that the bulk of the peoplo interested will back up my statement. To say that Heather has not qualified to race in the remainder of the trials is all moonshine, and anyone who studies the table published in tho ‘Star’ every Monday showing the placings of the respective boats in the nine races sailed will readily see that Heather’s record this season does not hear out such a contention. Certainly she has only won one race, hut she has given a. more consistent account of herself than any of the other boats, with tho exception of Winifred, by being placed second in four races, third in three races, and in one race she was compelled to retire on account of her rudder gudgeon carrying away. Next to Winifred she has been the most consistent boot in the trials to the present date. For tho benefit of those who arc advocating tho inclusion of lona and the exclusion of Heather from the trials, it may he as well to show the exact placings of five of the eight boats on n basis of points, as were awarded in last year's trials, up to the time lona, Mona, Eunice, and Valmai were eliminated. On points Winifred would bo credited with 22, Heather 15, June 14, Kia Ora 9, and lona 5! These placings should surely all levelheaded and unbiased followers of the sport that Heather is "well in the hunt,” and that lona's chances of being selected as Otago’s representative were practically nil. The miniature fleet of tho North-east. Harbor Boating Club is a sure proof that yachting is going ahead in Otago Hartor. The youthful skippers of tho little boats spend all their spare time in their boats, and can be seen sailing about the harbor almost every evening and every week-end. I have been informed that a sweepstake race has been arranged for 10foot and 12-foot sailing dinghies, to be sailed next Saturday afternoon. The young skippers are very keen, and a good race should result.

The shippers of Winifred, Heather, June, and Kia Ora evidently entered into the spirit of the competition to select the host boat to represent Otago, ns when they changed over on Saturday last, although the boats finished in the same order in the second race as they did in the first, the general opinion was that each boat was sailed better by each shipper and crew which had been placed on boar,4 'by the officials of the association. What proved to be a cood exhibition of sailing was the handling" of Heather by Winifred’s crew, and until she struck the sandbank ,_ and thereby lost all chance of beating AVinifrod, it was quite on the cards that she would have been the first boat homtu French’s handling of Winifred also elicited favorable comment, while Kia Orn sailed up to her reputation, and still could do better. June, on the other hand, evidently had a serious off day. The weather conditions were ideal for sailing last week-end. After the series of races held at Fort Chalmers and the Sanders Cup trials had been disposed of, the majority of the yachts and launches journeyed to the various hays down harbor. At Broad Bay were to bo the launches Ngaio, Janet, Aotca, Iris, Fern, Revenge, Rata, Mamari, and Ripple, and among’ tho yachts cruising in the Jury were Feather', Miti, Tncana, Seagull, \era, Mahana, Lennox Lass, and Gleam. This big fleet presented a very fine sight, and tho crews spent a most enjoyable weekend.

Commodore MTlutchon presided over a meeting of the Miicamlrewhs Bay Regatta Committee last Saturday evening. A considerable amount of business was disposed of, and all the reports from the Swimming Committee and other sub-committees disclosed the fact that all the arrangements in connection with the forthcoming regatta arc well advanced. The model yacht races for hoys, sailed last Saturday afternoon under the auspices of the Ravonsbournc Boating Chib, were a decided success. Six boats sailed in the first class and eight competed in the second class race. The races were started under the Mark Eoy system, and the results appeared to bo satisfactory to the boys, as the finishes were close in both races. The committee is indebted to Mr T. Montgomery for placing his boat at the disposal of the officials for starting the races. The Concert Committee, headed byMrF. J. Carter, is leaving no stone unturned to make the concert "to be held at Macandrew’s Bay next Saturday evening a big success.

It is quite on the cards that while the association is opposed to Sunday racing, night racing will have to be resorted to. This could easily be managed if the association could arrange, if a good breeze was blowing any day, say, at 4.30 p.m., that the skippers be notified to have their boats at the starting line, say, at 6.30 p.m. This would give them two hours of daylight, mid the boats could bo sent once round the course, which would he a good test. There is uo doubt that the skippers are anxious to see the best boat selected, and I feel sure they would put themselves to any inconvenience in order to give the boats a good test. The classifications for the Broad Bay regatta, to bo hold on New Year’s Day, are being made by the Broad Bay Boating Club, The programme has been completed, and will be in circulation within a few days. The club intends to hold concerts and dances on December 22 and on the nights of Boxing Day, New Year’s Day, and the 4th of January. Plans are under way for the new club house, to bo erected on the tee of the old Broad Bay wharf, and the residents of the Bay are to be asked to assist the club in their taking. A concert of outstanding merit will be given by the Dunedin Orphans’ Minstrel Troupe in the Macandrewks Bay Hall on Saturday evening next in aid of the regatta funds. I have been informed that some of the members of the Otago Motor Club intend to place their cars at the disposal of the performers for conveying them to the Bay, and if this is true it is another proof of the kindness and sporting spirit shown by the Motor Club. The spinnaker work and general handling of the four boats left in the Sanders Cup trials on Saturday last could not bo beaten anwhere in the dominion. In each instance of the boats rounding at Challis’s buoy the spinnakers were out at the moment of gybing of the main-sail. The sight of these spinnakers filling and drawing to a nicety immediately the boats had turned the buoy gave onlookers a good idea of the - capabilities of Otago’s yachtsmen. The only disadvantage onr crews labor under in comparison with the boats in the north is that they have not

the number of men from which to select crews suitable for the craft in accordance with the breeze which may he blowing at the time of the race. In this respect Auckland has the advantage in numbers, as far as light and heavy experienced men are concerned. Watching the crews standing by to receive orders to go aboard the Roma for each race in the Sanders Cup tests at Auckland early this year was an eye-opener to yachtsmen from the southern centres.

The method adopted when the skippers of the 14-foote.rs were changed on Saturday last was to draw lots. Alf. Wiseman was the first to draw, and ho drew his own boat—-Kia Ora. At the second attempt ho drew June. Mr J. P. M‘Cullocli was the next skipper to draw, and the slip of paper bearing Kia Ora’s name came out of the hat. All that was then necessary was for Deo. Kellett to take Heather, and for C. French to transfer to Winifred. Motor boat- owners should note that the two launch races under the auspices of the. North-east Harbor Boating Club will take place next Saturday afternoon. Entries will close at 5 p.m. on Wednesday next with the secretary (Mr C. Hook). The following officials have been appointed:— Judges—Messrs E. T. Moller, IT. Macandrew, and J. Vivian; starters, Messrs F. J. Carter and C. S. Free. The. races will be for launches four horse-power and under and over four horse-power.

Taking (he racing of tho fourteen-footers so far as it has gone this season, it has boon demonstrated that in a full-sail breeze or under Winifred stands out. This is partly on account of the splendid mainsail tho boat carries and partly on account of tho superior combination of her crew. There is no doubt, in the opinion of most yachtsmen, that Winifred has shown an improvement on last year’s form; but she has yet to prove whether this improvement is enough to enable her to win the Bandera Oup—that is, providing she is selected to represent Otago at Wellington in January. Heather has put up some very creditable performances, and I have heard it freely stated that this boat should represent Otago. Judging by the remarks heard in all quarters, Heather has more supporters than any other boat taking part in tho competitions. Heather this season has proved herself in light winds, and this is all the more satisfactory in view of the fact that in past years she was only looked upon to give a docent performance in a heavy blow, but she has now demonstrated that in light weather she is a craft to be reckoned with. June and Kia Ora will, as time goes on, be greatly improved boats; but Juno’s display in light weather is unaccountable. Evidently the trim of this boat so far has r.ot been properly gauged in comparison with Kia Ora, her sister boat. After noting the performances of tho four boats for the past few weeks, I am of the opinion that, given a one or a two-reef breeze, tho association should have no difficulty now in selecting the boat to represent Otago at Wellington. The sooner such a breeze comes along the better it will ho for-all concerned, as it is quite evident that the strain of this close racing each week-end is beginning already to tell its tale.