YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 19699, 28 October 1927, Page 13

YACHTING

[By Fob’aed Hand.}

FIXTURES. October 29. - Opening North-east Harbor and Port Chalmers Clubs. November S.—N.E.H. Club races. November 9.—0. Y and M.B. Association meeting. November 19.—0.Y.0. opening. November 26. Opening Ravensbourno Club; 14-footer and Takapuna class trial. December 3.—N.E.H. Club races; 14-footer atfd Takapuna class trial. December 10.—Ravensbourno Club races; 14-footer and Takapuna class trial. December 17.—14-footer and 1 akapuna class trial. , January 7. Rnvensb , ” , rno Club races. N.E.H. Club race* February 25.—Strang Cup race. WEEK-END TIDES. Saturday.—Dunedin, 5.50 a.m., 6.12 p.m.; Port Chalmers, 5.20 a.m., 5.42 p.m.; Heads, 4.40 a.m., 5.02 p.m. Sunday.—Dunedin, 6.35 a.m., 6.09 p.m,; Port Chalmers, 6.05 a.m., 6.29 p.m.; Heads, 6.35 a.m., 6.59 p.m It is little wonder that Auckland is regarded as the New Zealand yachtsman’s paradise. A northern paper points out that there are no less than thirteen properly constituted boating clubs, usith subscriptions ranging from three guineas to three shillings. An Auckland paper states that two ladies have purchased the 16-footer Tulip, and Mr Charles Brown is acting as sailing master, while two other fair followers of tho sport are looking out for a suitable craft. Yachting as a sport or a pastime should appeal to most women who are good sailors, and it may not be long before still more are sailing their own craft. England’s summer was the worst on record, and tho woatherwise, with a penchant for statistics and study, hold that the English seasons give New Zealand an indication what to expect. We hope tho indications are wrong this year. For several summers the weather has not been good for yachting in Otago, and now that the yachtsmen will have an extra hour in the evenings on the harbor a continuity of fine weather and steady breezes would be welcomed. Yachting or the fireside? Well, ho must have been a hardened old sea dog who would have chosen the former on Labor Day week-end. Tho weather was more in keeping with the Ross Sea than Otago Harbor, yet ono boat was out for tho week-end. They could have it all on their own, and they did have it, too! The weather, however, was not too atrocious as to keep yachtsmen away fi'om their boats, and between tho showers, snow and hail, a number put the finishing touches to their craft m readiness for leaving the hard. The season is with us, and to-morrow gay displays of pennants will be made on the clubhouses of tho North-east Harbor and Port Chalmers Clubs, and the white wings will bo ftoating about, and the motor launches will ho all gay with colors. Both clubs will hold their official openings. North-east Harbor has issued neat invitations. Its function commences at 2.30 p.m., when Commodore G. F. Bewloy will usher in tho new season. An orchestra will be in attendance, and afternoon tea will be provided lor tho visitors. Jho launches will convoy the visitors ior spins, and the day will bo wound up with a dance and euchre tournament at night.

OTAGO’S CHALLENGER. Witli the keel laid, moulds in position, and garboards on, Otago’s new Ilona design boat is commencing' to tako shape. A start has been made with tho planking, and, all going well, the 14-footer should be in the water in time to compote in the first Sanders Cup trial race on November 26. il I’ll do my best, and 1 think I will be able to turn out a good boat,” Mr E. Leach told “For’ard Hand” when discussing the boat before the plans arrived from Auckland. He has made a good start, tho work being under way in a big shed at Ravensbourno. All his spare time is being devoted to the building, and practical help is being given him by ono of the leaders or the syndicate financing tho construction. ‘ Five weeks yet remain in which to complete the boat, but difficulties over winch Mr Leach has no control might arise, and yachtsmen must be patient. Even if the boat is not ready for launching by November 26, the first trial will be postponed. The skippers of the present 14-tooters are keen on tho syndicate’s boat being given every opportunity of proving itself in all trials, and all will be pleased it Mr Loach succeeds in producing a wonder boat. , . That building shed at Ravensbourno is a. mystery box at present. W hen tho spring is released and the boat comes out, may it ho another Betty.

CORNWELL CUP DIFFICULTIES. The Cormvci! Cup contest this veal' will be held on the Waitcmata Harbor, and Otago has already made its challenge. , , Carl Holler has represented Otago m the iirst two contests, and, although ho still comes within the age ruling, according to the Auckland definition ol tho rule, he will not bo an aspirant lor 11,0 honor of representing the province this year. He finds his studies as a dental student 100 pressing, and his young brother Lester will ho at the tiller of Colleen this year. However, Lester has had little experience in yachting, and, although Colleen is faster than Betty, young Holier will probably find that ho will not bo capable enough of handling jus Takamina boat well enough. As Hugh Riddell is tho only other Takapuna class skipper ou tlio harbor he will probably he Otago’s elected challenger. This year’s contest will decide the fate of the Cornwell Cup races. The races at Lyttelton in February were nothing short of a iarce owing last superiority of George Andrews s Gad by over the six other competitors. \V iLimit doubt there is nearly as much cmfercnco between a lumber scow and a racing schooner in the Takapuna. boats. The contest rules provide that the centre at which the races are held must provide the boats, and that alter cacn race the crows must change their cralt. So ludicrous was the past contest tliat even the most enthusiastic Lakapnn.i elms men were despairing of the futuie of the contest. The rules must be altered. That is imperative, satisfactory solution of the difucultj would be to restrict the weight of the boats and to allow each province to have its own boat at tho contests. Then if * crew were beaten, they would know that their boat was not so fast as the other competitors. BITTERNESS OVER BETTY. “ Next on the list of difficulties there is tho question of Canterbury's representation in the Sanders Cup next year,” says the Christchurch Star. ‘‘ Yachtsmen throughout the dominion will he pleased to seo that Canterbury have* offered and Southland have accepted the privilege of holding the contest next February at Stewart island, a concession which the untiring anu indefatigable eii'orts of the soutnern yachtsmen, wlio.se province has been represented almost Irom the beginning ol the contest (hitherto unsuccessfully), have amply ,instilled. All must join in wishing the Southland men the best of weather and tho best of luck for their arrangements, but it would be a sad insult indeed if Canterbury was unable to wuml a defender south to assist the sport. ;

“At present the outlook must bo regarded as poor, due to the destruction by fire of the 14-footers lona (exDunedin aud dominion champion) and Linnet (latest effort from the stocks of the Lyttelton firm of Millar’s, Ltd.), and the disinclination of yachtsmen on the other side of tho hill to send the crack defender Betty once more into the field for fear of discouraging not only the provincial, but maybe, say, the dominion entrants, quite apart from tho unfortunate bitterness which has managed to creep into tho issue from certain quarters. All may yet be well, however, and Canterbury may have a truly representative defender competing next year, to the general satisfaction of all concerned. “ Outside Canterbury Sanders Cup matters appear to bo again booming, Dunedin having announced their intention of putting—for the first time, be it noted—a ‘ crackerjack * Jolucoe class boat into the field. Her previous representatives were all of the old restricted type. This is a most satisfactory sign, and may be taken as clear evidence of the fact that the superiority of the new, as opposed to tho old typo, is now universally recognised.

AROUND THE CLUBS. —North-east Harbor.— At a committee meeting of North-east Harbor Club, which was held on Wednesday, a letter was received from the Harbor Board stating that the landing stage at tho wharf would be repaired. The stage has been in a bad condition for most of the winter, and it was dangerous to land passengers from the boats there. It was decided that tho club support the recommendation of the O.Y. and M.B. Association tiiat in future motor launches be classed according to their speed aud not on a horse-power basis. A meeting of those interested in tho formation of a rowing branch of the club will be held in the shed on November 12. Arrangements are now well in hand for the opening to-morrow, and all that is required to make the function a success is a fine day. It is understood that the outboard racer Caille will give a demonstration if tho weather permits. Despite the unseasonable weather during tho week-end, most of tho boats in the bay were out for a sail. Tho Fan was slipped on Monday for cleaning and painting before the opening. During the week-end the visitors to tho bay included Jewel, Dolphin, Quest, Aotea, Verona, Southern Star, Eclipse, Nomad, and Joycie. Dolphin developed engine trouble on Monday night when off Johnson’s, and drifted back to Macandrows. ■ The Takapuna boat Colleen has been painted, and is almost ready lor launching. Len Budd has put in a good deal of work on his launch Tui, and now has her ready for tho new season. —0.Y.0. The Otago Club’s yard presents a busy appearance during the evenings, nearly all the crews working hard to have their craft ready in time lor tho opening. Mr Bishop is making good progress with Ugic, and is at present installing tho engine. Viking’s mast was stopped on Wednesday, and she should be ready for tho water early next week. Vera is also being overhauled, and should bo alloat soon. During the week the launches have been moored in linos 4011 apart, so that there will bo plenty of room to swing all round. —Broad Bay.— As with tho other boating centres, the bad weather during tho week-end interfered to a great extent with tho enjoyment of tho holiday. Nevertheless, a number of boats were out, Tho Ravensbourno yachts Kia Ora and Eileen went to Broad Bay, and remained there for the week-end. Tho Minnow was cruising in the vicinity, while Shadow was also out for a spin, looking spick and span, as usual, Tho Winifred, winch visited tho bay last week, evidently developed engine trouble, and stayed there. NOTES AT RANDOM. Congratulations to Messrs T. Paterson and Noel Doig, tho owner and skipper of Caille L, which won the outboard race at lledcliffs last Saturday. This was the first race for which the outboard racer had entered, and those who saw her in action speak highly of her performance. From the point of view of a race lor tho sake of racing it was entirely satisfactory to the Dunedin enthusiasts; but the real object of the race was to try out tho local Caillepowered craft against boats fitted with Lockwood, Johnstone, and other Caille motors. Mr Paterson received an invitation from the northern city, and accepted it, going to the expense of railing Caillel. to Christchurch _ for tho event. Much to his disappointment, however, some of the Christchurch boats did not come out. There may have been some excuse for their non-appear-ance, but the Dunedin men did not hear of it. Naturally, they have not formed very high opinions of such unsportsmanlike yachtsmen. Mr Paterson says that, 'had Caille I. been beaten in the race, ho would have experimented with, a different type of boat, as it is his intention to represent Otago at the Now Zealand championship to be held at Russell early next year. This enthusiast is at present building two now boats of Hawaiian mahogany, and great things are expected of thorn. When they arc completed he will have a licet of four boats.

So keen is Mr Paterson that lie sent for tlio rules of the New Zealand championship. These have como_ to hand, and in item 11 the conditions read: “Ono boat only to be nominated front each province. The boat must be nominated at tbo time of entry. (The championship shall always bo raced for at tlie Russell regatta.)” This seems an unduly hard rnlo._ In every other sport, when a championship is held it takes place at the port of the. holder. As this is a matter that concerns all tho provinces. “For’ard Hand” is of the opinion that it should be brought before tbo New Zealand Power Boat Association, with tho object of haying the races held by tho winning province. It seems only fair that the winner should have tho-opportunity of defending the title on his own_cour.se. It is essential that this type of boat should carry efficient life preservers, and the rules should provide for them. Mr Paterson has imported two from New York of tho same pattern as worn by Gar Wood the foremost speed-boat racer in tho United States. In appearance they resemble an ordinary waistcoat. coming down to tbo hips. Front and bade have tubes filled with sufficient kapok to keep a man afloat for a '’ru'ci(?f> rn ) J ) ri time. Outboarders are bv no means dear, as speed boats go. the engine and cost of material, without ■ labor, coming to about £53 The cost of the whole of the material for building, of mahogany with three-ply bottom, totals approximately £5. and a boat can bo built in about a fortnight of evenings’ working. Tbe outbonrdm's have become popular wherever they have been started, and in the larger centres of Australia and America it is no unusual sight to see a score or so of starters in such a race; while to the competitors themselves the sport is as thrilling as it is fast.