YACHTING AND BOATING

Evening Star, Issue 19126, 18 December 1925, Page 12

YACHTING AND BOATING

NOTES AND COMMENTS

[By Bp.ef.zk.]

COMING EVENTS

December 19.—Sanders Cup trial race; Ravensbourno Boating Club's first series races; Otago Yacht Club's first series races.

December 26.—Macandrew’s Bay Regatta. January I.—Broad Bay Regatta. January 9.—Port Chalmers Club races; Ravenshourne Club races. January 16.—Otago Yacht Club’s picnic for orphans. January 30.—Otago Yacht Club’s cruising race to Broad Bay; Port Chalmers Club races. J TO-MORROW’S TRIAL. The course for the Sanders Cup trial race to-morrow will be as follows : Start from between flag on Victoria wharf and black buoy out from Stuart street, thence round Otago Yacht Club buoy off cove on starboard hand, round buoy off Stuart street on port hand; twice round, boats to finish over starting line. If it is thought advisable, tho race may be stopped at the end of the first round and a further race started immediately. Probably only in the event of one boat getting a very substantial lead would the judges, however, declare a race stopped after the completion of one round. Should they do so, a recall flag will be flown, and boats must call for further instructions. The race is fixed to start at 3 p.m., and unfortunately tho tide will not be suitable. If a second race is sailed the boats will sail the triangular course as follows: —Start from between flag on Victoria wharf and black buoy off Stuart street, thence round red buoy off Sunshine, and round buoy off Birch street wharf, keeping all rounding marks on starboard hand; twice round, finish to be over starting line.

lona, Kia Ora, Winifred, and Heather are now finely equipped with sails, and Eunice will have the use of a suit of Winifred’s, so to-morrow’s race over the altered course may indicate fairly plainly which boat is most likely to be selected to defend the Sanders Cup for this province. LOCAL GLEANINGS. The first series of races under the auspices of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Chib and the first series of the Ravonsbonrno Boating Club’s events will take place to-morrow. Also races for first and second-class model yachts will be held at Anderson’s Bay bv the Otago Model Yacht Club. The handicapping in the sailing race at Macandrcw’s Bay last Saturday was most satisfactory. Mavis bent Agnes fscr) by only ]scc, and Mona was a good third. Another Taknpuna boat is to he built by Air James Thomson, the late owner of the yacht Minnow. Mr Thomson expects fo have her afloat in throe months’ time. Yacht Club Viee-commodore Paul's launch Aotoa has again taken to the water. The boat is in great running condition and is tastefully painted. The 14-footer Heather had her first outing for this season on Saturday under one of her new sots of English canvas. Albert Dawson rigged her, and he did so remarkably veil; and Messrs Dugald Paterson, A. Dawson, and J. Thomson composed the crew. Heather left the boat harbor at about if.3o to cross the harbor, and each member of the crew had a turn at the tiller. Entire satisfaction was given by the boat. Heather was afloat again on Sunday morning, under Messrs M'Culloch. Dawson, and Thomson. She beat to Anderson’s Bay, and as she drew level with Kia Ora by the three legs channel mark she proved herself up to form by leaving the other craft as the boats hauled on the wind. Jn fluky airs Heather also performed well. During Sunday afternoon she was again out. She beat from the boat harbor to Maeandrow’s Bay, and on the run homo her spinnaker was hoisted. It was hard to judge how Heather was faring in the afternoon, for no other boats wore near. An old-timerstates that her sails fit beautifully, and he expects Mr M'Culloch, if lie maintains his revived interest in yachting, will bo knocking at the door when the time comes for Otago’s defender of the Sanders Cup to be choke ii. There has been a fair amount of activity lately so far as launches aro concerned. The Rcwi has been launched after being painted, and the Iris lias been hauled up for overhaul. The Aiisa, with a now 10-14 h.p. engine, has improved since the heavier engine was discarded. Mr Alex. Begg’s Laura will have a 20-24 h.p. engine installed when her overhaul Ls completed. Marcwa, Revenge, Hazel, Norana, Mara fa, and Ean were so me of the powered craft out at the week-end.

Sailing craft on the harbor during the week-end included Agnes, Tiki, Colleen, UeaUicole (a deekod-m 12-looter), Scud, .Lassie, Eileen, Minnow, Spray, and Sea Hawk. The last-named boat (a 14ft square-bilge craft) is up ior overhaul and painting. The yacht Adelaide is receiving attention from A3r George Latimer. OUTSIDE NEWS. The owners of Peggy, tho 14-I'ooicr Sanders Cup boat, still refuse (says a Wellington writer) to comply with tho ruling* of the committee of the R.N.P.Y.C. tlmt the mast be shifted to within the prescribed lift of tho bow. Instead of that the dispute has been placed before the owners in the hands of a lawyer, who has written to the club on the matter. It should be pointed out, however, that there is hardly a question of law involved. The ultimate decision on the question will rest with the Dominion Council, which sits at Dunedin during the Sanders Cup races in February, in the meantime, however, the ruling is in the hands of the R.P.N.Y.O. The opinion of tho Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association was sought by the club, and this influenced the decision against Peggy’s eligibility to take part in the trials. The effect of the alterations to Peggy are such that the mast is 4ft from the bow, and in light weather she has a decided advantage on account of being able to carry a lugger jib. It is a pity mi agreement cannot be reached, because the yacht has done so well during the two trials (from which she has been disqualified) that her performance with correct structural dimensions would be interesting. Included in the Auckland Harbor development scheme is the provision of a boat harbor for pleasure craft at St. Mary’s Bay. It was stated that the construction of a vehicular terry landing at the western extremity ol North Wall and the utilisation of the area west of the breakwater was possible only if adequate protection from the heavy westerly weather, frequently experienced in Auckland, was provided. This could be accomplished and a double purpose be served by building a breakwater from the reef at Point Erin to enclose an area of approximately 215 acres, which would form a commodious and safe harbor for pleasure craft. This

area was at present shallow, but could be economically dredged by utilising the spoil to form the proposed 2oJ-ao.ro reclamation west of the western breakwater. As funds became available the simple protection thus afforded could he amplified by constructing a viaduct approach from Curran street, and a roadway and area for boat and club houses are indicated on the plan.