YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 19763, 13 January 1928, Page 13

YACHTING

[By Fob’abd Hand.]

FIXTURES. January 14.—Eort Chalmers Club races. January 21.—Port Chalmers Ladies’ Day. January 22.—0.Y.0. picnic. January 28.—Port Chalmers Club r&c6S* February 18.—0. Y. Club races; third Paterson Cup race. February 25.—Strang Cup race; Port Chalmers Ladies’ Day. March 3.—Port Chalmers Club races. March 17.—Moffat Cup race, April 16. —Broad Bay Club races, WEEK-END TIDES. The following times are according to Summer time;— Saturday.—Dunedin, 10.17 a.m., 10.41 p.m.; Port Chalmers, 9.47 a.m,, 10.11 p.m.; Heads, 9.7 a.m., 9.31 p.m. Sunday.—Dunedin, 11.3 a.m., 11.26 p.m.; Port Chalmers, 10.33 a.m., 10.66 p.m.; Heads, 9.53 a.m., 10.16 p.m. Sanders Cup Trials at Stewart Island. —February 16, February 16, February 17, and February 18. Cornwell Cup Trials, at Auckland.— January January 16, and January 17. Other races if necessary.

THE LATE MR W. C. RUTTLEDGE. Another of the old hands from amongst the yachtsmen whose yachting days dated about tho year 1889-90 has passed away—William C. Ruttledge. The lata Mr Ruttledge commenced his boating davs amongst Mark Webb’s fleet, and tnen joined up with the late Peter Sutherland’s crew of the Nell/ Bill was a good hand at tho tiller in a blow. Our informant ran a good race against Bill many years ago, and, although Bill was handicapped by a stiff logj he tied with the writer in the final sprint. The circumstances leading up to the race were most irregular. Tho Nell had made a trip to Broad Bay with a crew of five after tea (which was cooked aboard) was completed a row ashore in the dinghy and a ramble around the then quite bay was suggested and carried out. _ Walking around an empty house (which is still in the bay), some hives containing bees and (likely) some honey vyere spotted. The question, “Do you like honey?” was answered with a loud “Yes. ’ How the honey was to be got was left to Bill, and his method was strongly objected to by the entire bee family, who'e attack centred on Peter ■ SuthnlanA's mastiff dog AVallace_, whose bowls brought his owner to his assistance, and not before a good many of the bees had settled in Peter’s The sprint to the briny and a wade in Hie salt water soon got rid of the bees, and the hives were severely left alone. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. Mr J. Samson’s champion outboarder has been christened Fiasco. The little craft is 10ft in length, with a beam of 4ft 4in, and is built on the American “ Apple Sauce ” design, which was evolved by Irgen, the chief engineer of the Lockwood Motor_ Company. A 4 h.p. Lockwood motor_is the power unit. It is Mr Samson’s intention to build another outboarder to the “Nize Baby” design, to be christened Soap Box. “For’ard Hand ” understands that Soap Box will he stationed at North-east Harbor, where tests will bo made with Mr J. M'Pherson’s Caillepowored Jade and Mr F. Brown’s Miss Elto, the owners changing the engines in the different class of boats, thus giving the engines and boats a thorough try-out. The many friends of Mr George Currie, ex-skipper of the yacht Annis and tho launch Helene, who is now in business in AATiakatane, will be pleased te know that the genial George is again in Dunedin on holiday, and is looking up his old sailing mates. One of George’s greatest pleasures in the northern centre is to go for a sail in the ex-Dun-edin yachts Janet and Matua which are now owned in Tauranga. It has been learned, on the best of authority (reports “ Bobstay,” of the ‘Sun’), that Lyttelton is to have a new Jellicoe class fourteen-footer. Messrs F. Dobbie, Steve Tocmey, and Charles Loader have definitely decided to have a Rona-type boat built, and that a start will be made at the hull in tho course of a couple of months. As the construction work will be in the capable hands of Mr F. Dobbie, who built Usher, the new production in all probability will be a “ top-notcher,” as Usher is regarded as equal to the best of her class in New Zealand, with the exception of Betty. Mr D. J. Munro writes:—Will you please inform me as to whether a 12ft 6in class yacht may race with but one man as crew? There do not seem te be any rules on the subject, and I would he glad if you would give mo your opinion. Also, do you know of any launch whose owner is desirous of cruising to Stewart Island for the Sanders Gup contest and who is short of a crew? Another and 1 are keen to piake the trip.”—A 12ft 6in sailing boat can be sailed in any race other than a provincial Cornwell Cup trial with only one man aboard. There is no rule on the subject, but it would be wiser to carry two men when the wind is stiff, thus giving the boat more stability and providing for more safety if a capsize occurs. The advice to Sir Munro is to man his boat as the conditions suit. Several launch owners propose making tho trip to Stewart Island, and Mr Munro would do well to communicate with Mr J. T. Paul, president of the Yacht Association, who is in constant touch with launch owners. RULES ON POSTPONEMENTS. Following on the curious position arising at Macandrew’s Bay last Saturday, yachtsmen are now referring to the Y.A. rules. Tho ail-comers’ yacht race of the North-east Harbor Club was scheduled to take place on Saturday, which was also the date for tho Otago Club’s cruising race to Broad Bay. The Bay race was called off by the commodore without consulting the Sailing Committee. On Saturday three of the intending Bay skippers urged the Sailing Committee' to reinstate the race. A meeting of the committee, at which the commodore was absent, decided that the flag officer’s orders should be cancelled, and the race was sailed. From beginning to end this episode was regrettable, and shows the need for more harmony in the club. After the last annual meeting “ For’ard Hand ” believed tha't tho club relations would be harmonious, but, according to the talk now going on, some pertinent questions wall bo asked when Commodore Bewley returns from Auckland. in tho first place, the commodore acted wrongly in not conferring with the Sailing Committee, which is responsible for the races from tho moment the racing programme is approved

by the Club Committee. The rules of the Otago Yacht Club state;-—All races and all yachts sailing therein shall i the direction of the Sailing Committee. . . . The Sailing Comma tee or officer in charge for the day shall have power to postpone any race should circumstances, in. their or his opinion, render such a course desirable,” The commodore was not the appointed officer for the day, and therefore his ruling must ho held null and void. But the Y.A. rules are the last word in yachting jurisdiction, and even the rules of the North-east Harbor or Otago Club are ruled out when reference is made to the Y.A. laws. Rule 8 states: —“The Sailing Committee shall have power to postpone or cancel any race should unfavorable weather render such a course desirable.” It is clear, therefore, that even the Sailing Committee would have acted in contravention to the accepted laws of yachting if it had called off last Saturday’s race, for the weather was perfect. Commodore Bewley has made an error in judgment. He gave his ruling in all good faith, for he is an enthusiast for his club and the sport. CORNWELL CUP CONTEST. First race for the Cornwell Cup takes place at Auckland to-morrow afternoon. H. Riddell and C. C. Churchill, the Otago crew, arrived in Auckland on Wednesday morning, so they have had plenty of time to study the tidal and wind vagaries of the Waiteraata. They stand as bright a chance as any other crew of winning the trophy, judging by last veer’s contest, much depending on the luck of 'the boat draw. Eighteen visiting boys will be in Auckland for the contest, but a committee of fifty-four has their entertainment in train. If the huge committee had been set up to consider the rules of the contest, more good would he done for the future of the sport. However, Otago’s best wishes for a successful qontost go 4o the Aucklanders. Despite

liis oft-repeated pessimistic view of tht Cornwell Cup races, “For’ard Hand*! would be one of the first to congratw late the Auckland enthusiasts if a, scientific contest, won by the best crovft takes place next week. I CHILDREN’S REGATTA. | The children’s regatta, which vas held at Macandrow Bay last Saturday! was a complete success, for the 2cs who took advantage of the opportunity of spending’ an afternoon on the waten The thanks of the promoters is duo « those who so willingly placed thea boats and motors at the disposal oj the committee, and to all those whf contributed so largely towards tfy funds and helped in many other to make the event a success. . * THE CRUISING RACE. Tho two-reef north-easter which pro vailed during the greater part of thi cruising raco on Saturday last suitoi Shadow, and the Marcom-rigged boa romped home an easy winner. Whei the boats were in the vicinity of Chal 1 lis’s, the wind eased off to some exl tent, enabling most of the boats t<j shako out their reefs. At this staglt Lark superseded Minnow, and occupied the second position, which she peH till the end of the race. Vp