YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 20049, 14 December 1928, Page 15

YACHTING

[By Foa’AED Hah*.]

YACHTSMAN'S CALENDAR., December B.—-Otago Yacht Club (cruising race to Broad Bay, yachts and launches); Broad Bay Club (opening Regatta. December 27.—Karitano Regatta* January' I.—Broad Bay Regatta. January 12.' —Otago Yacht dub 9.—Moffatt Cup race. February 14.—Sanders Cup oonteflt, at Akaroa. February 23.—St. Leonards Regatta; Otago Yacht Club races. March 23.—Otago Yacht dub (harbour race). WEEK-END TIDES. Saturday.—Heads: 5.5 a.m.,- 8.28 p.m. Port Chalmers: 5.45 a.m., 6A p.m. Dunedin: 6.15 a.m., 6.38 p.m. Sunday.—Heads: 5.52 a.m., 6.16 p.m. Port Chalmers: 6.32 a.m., 6.56 pm. Dunedin: 7.2 a.m., 7.26 p.m. AGAIN VINDICATED OTAGO AND CORNWELL OCR RULING. From the time the ruling was given in January on the now celebrated race for the Cornwell Cup “ For’ard Hand’ crossed swords with the Takapuna Boating Club’s Sailing Committee, and his opinions were immediately supported by the actions of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association. That Otago won tho cup cannot be rationally disputed, and tho supremo foolishness of the Sailing Committees rulings have now been the subject of an adverse opinion from the Sydney Yacht Racing Association. The Australian body’s opinion was obtained after a ruling had been obtained from an individual authority (Mr E. G. Dim, sailing editor of tho ‘Yachting and Motor Boat Monthly’). At last night’s meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association Mr Paul reported that the whole question had been considered by the Sydney Yacht Racing Association. Mr Dim’s opinion, valuable as it undoubtedly was, expressed the view of one man. Ho referred the case to the Yacht Racing Association, the statement being that prepared by Mr Paul, and which was aa follows (with the names substituted for numbers): —

“In a yacht race which was one of a series for a one-design class, the crews changing boats for each race, eight boats Tauranga. Manukau, Whangaiei, Auckland, Hawke’s Bay, Wellington. Canterbury, and Otagostarted. After the race had proceeded for some tiuio Otago had established a rfood lead. Auckland and Canterbury collided, Canterbury being guilty of an infringement of the port-starboard tack rule. Auckland retired, sailing back to her moorings, her shrouds being slackened. as a result of the collision. The race continued, Canterbury retiring before its conclusion, and Whangarei also retired at the later stage. Five boats finished the race, Otago being first, Tauranga second, and Manukau third. “ After the race Auckland applied for a resail, on the ground that the boat had to retire owing to damage caused by Canterbury, when Auckland had a reasonable chauce of winning.

“ Tho Sailing Committee decided by a majority:—

“ (a) That the collision had a detrimental effect on Auckland's _ gear and spoiled her chance of carrying on m the race. “ (b) Owing to a collision which occurred in the race causing Auckland to retire through damage, which the crew was not responsible tor, this committee orders a rosail between Auckland and Otago to decide the winner of the raco. “ Question — “ fl) Was the decision of the Sailing Committee in ordering the race to be resailed in accordance with yacht racing practice and the rules of racing P “ (2) Was the Sailing Committee's decision in restricting the rcsail race to Auckland and Otago in accordance with yacht racing practice and the rules of racing P” The reply, signed by Sydney S. Wonborn, hou. secretary of the Sydney Yacht Racing Association, dated November 8, states that the association’s opinion is as follows: “ The answer to questions X and 1 2 is the same—under the circumstances, No.” Mr Raul said ho felt sure that tho members of the association and yachtsmen generally would be pleased to have this valued opinion, because it strengthened the case for the well-established rules governing yacht racing, and was in accord with yachting practice all over the world. The association expressed its thanks to Mr Paul for his services, and decided to write thanking the Sydney Association for the ruling. So Otago has been again vindicated. BAY CLUB'S CHALLENGE WITHDRAWAL ONLY COURSE. Tho North-oast Harbour Club has a dear course before it. Withdrawal of its challenge for the Cornwell Cup is tho only reasonable action. Although the Takapuna Club has announced that it will take legal advice on tho question, the acceptance of tho Macandrew Bay challenge cannot be made. The rules clearly define tho channel through which challenges must be forwarded if an association exists at tho port, and it is no secret, even among members of the Bay Club, that Takapuna will reluctantly have to refuse the nomination. That being so, why is the club persisting in its attitude? Assurance is given by the delegates to the Otago Association that tho club bears no antagonism towards tho governing body.; The club, however, has acted defiantly, and its duty now is to make amends by unequivocally withdrawing the challenge, which must, in tho course of the" next few days, bo turned down by tho body controlling tho Cornwell Oup contest. The club has made matters decidedly unpleasant, and humble pie must be eaten. The association refuses to reopen tho ease in any way, and has placed its cards on _ tho table. > Tho club, however, has given no facility for tho views of all its members to bo placed before tho other clubs, as a motion to go into committee was carried at the general meeting on Saturday night. The motion was moved by Mr G. F. Bewloy. It was a protracted meeting (lasting 2} hours), and some of the arguments would have made interesting reading. DECLINE IN POPULARITY. Yachting in Otago Harbour has seen much better days and lias had brighter outlooks. At present the sport is declining in all directions, and the prospects for the future are dull. “ For’ard Hand ” is not gloomy, but at this stage it ia

well that efforts should be made to rouuscitato the sport in the harbour. With perhaps an exception or two, thero are no crafts on the harbour really deserving of tho name of yachts, yet thoso cranky little boats of two planks and a wide board and a handkerchief of a sail are called yachts. In. rocent years no new yachts have been built, and the best of the boats which once made the sport interesting have been purchased for northern centres. Old hands are quickly dropping out of the game, , and few young men are stepping into tho breach. Undoubtedly the attractions of the motor car and cycle have drawn many men from yachting, which is confined to tho narrow boundaries of tho harbour. During tho season there are many perfect days for deep-water sailing, but it says little for tho adventuresome spirit of tho yachtsmen of to-day that they will not go outside tho Heads. Admitted that the boats must bo capable and the skippers able for such trips, hut by sailing up and down tho channel the yachtsmen learn lew points and cannot possibly interest the general public. It will bo only by attracting public attention to tho good points of the sport that yachting will progress. The yachtsmen on tho harbour lust a splendid opportunity when they failed to organise a reception profession for the ships of the Byrd Antarctic expedition when they arrived and sailed, and it is to bo hoped that when the expedition returns from its stay on tho ice that the clubs will unite and give the Americans a real sailors’ welcome. In the motor boat section tho decline has not been so serious, but the .sport does not show much advancement. The commercialisation of motor boating seems to bo tho only salvation. With motor engine linns induced to take keen and practical interest this branch of water racing would advance rapidly. Judging by tho present activity (or lack of it) by the individual boat owners, tho sport will nob progress, as tho racing section is almost neglected. Ho special inducements arc made to newcomers to the sport of yachting and motor boating, and tho more experienced men would do well to form schemes for assisting them. They drift into the sport and drift out again. In tho past tho main effort of the chibs to obtain yachtsmen for tho future has been in tho direction of enrolling boys, but there are plenty of young men, “For’ard Hand” 'is positive, who would. enter the game with all enthusiasm if. they woro only introduced to the thrills which yachting, motor boating, and outboard racing can provide. SMALL BOAT DA NO HUS. Despite tho loud warnings given in past seasons, the clubs are making no effort to minimise the danger of sailing in small yachts. Tho fragile crafts form tho hulk of tho fleet on the harbour, and although tho attention to the adoption of safety principles has been urged time after .time tho club officials aro showing no willingness to enforce tho recommendations. Disaster is courted by allowing unballasted boats to leave their moorings. iWheii they capsize tho. crews have to light lor their jives. Oil drums should be lushed under the decking for’ard and ait, or sacks of cork can bo stowed away. If the boat should capsize, it .will keep afloat till assistance arrives. lb is also imperative that tho <MRciuls shfiiild see that the crew wear lifebelts, They are not cumbersome, and ns a factor for safety they aro unsurpassed. The overloading of the small boats is another serious problem, and experienced meu have fears when they see so many youngsters packed into the boats on the harbour. T l l ’ lie . ter , l : ible tragedy off Quarantine Dland will never he forgotten. It has had tno effect of antagonising many of the general public against yachting, and the bounden duty of the clubs is to immediately demand that every precaution shall be taken by boat owners to assist.in reinstating tho sport as a safe pastime. On December 23, at 3 p.m., a special service is to be hold at the scene of the Bute fatality. The Macanclrew Hay yachtsmen are arranging the service to the memory of their old club mates, and every chib is being invited to ba.ro a full representation afloat i when a wreath is dropped into the water. REGATTA CLASS COLOURS. Class colours Lave been adopted for the events on the programme of the Macandrew Bay regatta, and whether the flag. be of one, two, or three colours, it must not he more or less than 12in square. The list is as follows: 14ft Jellicoc-class Yachts.—Red, White, and Red. Sailing Dinghies, 12ft Bin and under. —White. Yachts, 18ft and over 12ft Gin.— Red. Yachts, all-comers.—Blue and Red. Motor Bouts, 7 miles per hour and under.—Red and White. Motor Boats, over 7 ami under 9 miles.—Blue and White. Motor Boats, over 9 and under 15 miles.—Red, White, and Blue. Outboard Motor Boats.—Red. Speed Launches, boats of speed in excess of lo miles per hour (outboards excluded). —Blue. The adoption of the same colours by (dher regatta committees would result in uniformity and a saving to the contestants. CAMTERBDRY’S DEFENDER. The fourth trial raco for the selection of Canterbury's representative will bo sailed at Lyttelton to-morrow over a triangular course. Tho location <>■: tho course will depend on tho wind mi the day, and will bo fixed by a meeting of tho Sailing Committee. The result of last Saturday’s race further confirms the opinions previously expressed by “ Stem ” (says the Christchurch writer). Colleen is undoubtedly the boat in light weather, as is Secret in a blow. Usher is second best in either of these conditions, and in moderate breezes might beat both the others. As expected, her crew are making an improved showing as .they gain experience, and this accounts for part of the advance made by Usher in the third race. IE moderate conditions prevail for the fourth raco, it is likely that Usher wall bo seen a winner. It is probably impossible to effect a change of skippers, but, given weather favourable to Usher, all yachtsmen would like to see. what Fred. Morrison could do at her helm. Ho injustice can he done to Elliot Sin- • clair by saying that ho is not up to representative standard as a skipper. He has done excellently for one so young, and may yet notch a win; but 4 great deal of interest would be groused if Morrison could be secured to aril Usher. . Jf the course is completed satisfactorily the fourth trial will be the last one. The Sanders Cup Committee will meet in the evening, and choose the representative boat. < Their task should not be a difficult one. Everyone knows the conditions under which Coleen has scored her two wins, and those are the, conditions most likely to be met with at Akaroa in February. If the contest were being run at Wellington tho problem would be more complex, but m things are no one can say that after the three trials already held a, fourth ii not sufficient. The results of the races sailed can be quite simply stated. 1,1 a strong breeze Secret won to windward and about held her own off the wind. In moderate weather Colleen » was Secret’s equal ffh ihs hcai* tuid

sailed away from her to leeward. In very light weather (all boats carried only three light-weights on Saturday) Colleen was superior all round. MOTOR BOAT HANDICAPPING. Another club to adopt tho system of declared speeds for motor boat racing is the Broad Bay Club, which is carrying out tho system at its annual regatta. Tho paucity of entries for tho Otago Club’s cruising race last Saturday was a matter for regret, yet it is typical of the present attitude of launch owners. For years they have played drakes and ducks with tho handicapping, and owners who have honestly endeavoured to nm true races on every outing have lound that, it does not pay. A prominent sport who devoted many hours to handicapping on the harbour received nothing but brickbats for his generous work. To ono club ho gave his Saturday afternoons and holidays for several seasons, yet when he happened to overlook tho payment of his subscription tho debt collector was sent on bis trail. Tho declared speed system seems to bo tlio only solution of tho present problems, but its efficacious working lias still to be proved. Tho sport wants men who will try to win every time, and until the owners become sportsmen complaints will continue to ho. made about the handicapping. BOAT HARBOUR ACTIVITY. A fair amount of activity is still going on in the Otago Yacht’s Club's yard. Hgio is, having a Buiek engine installed, and Ailsa is being fitted with a. Sunbeam. Both these boats should show a marked increase in speed. Doris, which changed hands lately, is having a Ford engine installed and is undergoing an extensive overhaul. Dolphin is up for a few days in order to have her bearings run in. Lark has been partly painted, and should be launched shortly. Pacific is almost ready' for the water, and a fair amount of work lias been done to Winifred and Waipori. Southern Star lias been painted, hut has not been launched, owing to her owner (Mr ,I. Cunningham) mooting with an accident. All yachtsmen trust that ho will soon be about again. DRIFTWOOD. Vyclla is up on the slip for overhaul at Port Chalmers. Shirley is in the water again, and he: recommissioned engine was given a satisfactory trial last Sunday. Mnritai is off the slip, but she will bo out of commission for somo time, as valves fur her engine Jiavo to be specially made by her owner. By holding dances clubs can swell their bank balances. The dance at Portobello last Saturday, arranged by the Broad Bay Club, resulted in a, profit of over £B. The s,pecd boat Mystery is now fitted with a massive eight-cylinder aeromarine Rolls-Royce engine, and during her first trial this week sho travelled faster than over before. When tier motor is properly tuned up Mystery will give the spectators and her crew somo thrills. Tlio North-east Harbour Club lias drawn up its racing syllabus for the season, but it will not be announced till the dispute with the association over tho Cornwell Cup challenge is settled. Tlio first scries of races aro to coramonco to-morrow. Attention has been drawn to tho fact that tho names of several boats were missing from the list of racing numbers published last week. Owners of boats omitted should apply through their club to the association for an idlocation of a number. Tho speed record for outboards has been gradually climbing from the twenty-mile mark until, in the space of less than a year, it has advancel from SO to 41.748 m.p'.fi. This speed was_ achieved at tho regatta of the Illinois Valley Yacht Club, held at Peoria, Illinois, on September 30. The tests were electrically timed under competent supervision, tho mean of six runs showing tho result of 41.748. Two of the runs were done at a speed of 41.958. The boat was handled by her owner, Eldon Travis—slio is named Boyd Martin Bullet—and driven by an Elto Quad. Frolio has been allocated- No. 44 number on the Otago classified racing list. It is with pleasure that “ For’ard Hand ” noted last night tho adoption of a motion by the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association thanking Mr A. Lindsay for his services in compiling a list of launches and their general measurements for submission to the Royal Naval Reserve Motor Boat Patrol. At least one body shows appreciation of his work. The association has approved of the following outboard motor boat races at Karitane regatta on December 27: Karitano outboard handicap: First prize, £3; second, £2. Karitane outboard championship (unlimited): Cup to bo held by tho winner for ono year only, a miniature to become the property of the winner. The dub is not affiliated to the associa tion, but the governing body’s endorsement was sought with the provision of an adjudication being made by the association in case of a protest. Umbrage at comments by this writer on tho business conducted at the association’s meeting last week is taken by Mr Sell, delegate from the North-east Harbour Club. Ho expressed the opinion last night that the association should not bo written up. Tho president pointed out that the meeting was open to tho Press, and comments could bo made after the ordinary report had been given. “ For’ard Hand ” has at all times reserved the right to voice opinions in tho best interests of tlio sport, and will continue to give unbiased comments, despite any protests made from any quarter. When Mr J. T. Paul’s new boat is launched on Saturday week, a christening ceremony will bo held. The boat will bo launched on tho high tide at midday, and the function will take place later in tho afternoon.