YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 20089, 1 February 1929, Page 14

YACHTING

M - [By For’ard Hand.] YACHTSMAN’S CALENDAR. February 9.—Moffatt Cup race. February 14.—Sanders Cup contest; at Akaroa. February 16.—North-cast Harbour Club races. February 23.—St. Leonards Regatta; Otago Yacht Chib races. • March 23.—Otago Yacht Club (harbour race).' WEEK-END TIDES. Saturday.—Hoads; 9.30 a.m., 9.54 p.m. Port Chalmers. 10.10 a.m., 10.31 p.m.. Dunedin: 10.40 a.m,, 11.4 p.m. Sunday.—Heads: 10.19 a.m., 10.46 p.m. Fort Chalmers: 10.59 a.m., 11.23 p.m. Dunedin; 11.29 a.m., 11.53 p.m. THE LATE MR SELL. Tho sport lias lost a .staunch supporter in- the late Charles W. Sell. Known to a wide circle of friends as an. enthusiastic and clean yachtsman, lie was a familiar figure at the various aquatic fixtures about the harbour. “ For’ard Hand ” extends his deepest sympathy to the relatives. Charlie has had a lifelong connection with boating, and was connected with the yachts Result and Swastika, having built the latter, while later he went in for power boats, and was amongst the first devotees of speed boating on tlio harbour, having been interested in the Bumble Bee, Cobra, and Mystery, nil of which be had a hand in building, while he was frequently aboard the launch Joy. At the beginning of this season he had tho honour of being elected to the committee of the Northeast llarbour Boating Chib. DISSENSION AT’ AUCKLAND. ‘■The sport has been very badly managed, and . api getting out,” said Mr C. G. Macindoo, owner of tho Jcllieoe class boats Val and Bona, in referring to tho selection of the Avalon to represent Auckland at the Sanders Cup. races next month. “ 1 am getting rid of the boats, ana 1 luiio finished as lung as bungling is permitted.” said Mr Maeindoc. ”As far as I am concerned, tho boats will not appeal in the Anniversary Regatta. There has been a request for tho Val to represent Southand. If they want her in th? sontn they-may have her.” Mr Macindoe added that in the interests of the promotion of the sport ho had built tho Val (says the Auckland ‘Herald’). Ho considered the boat had not been adequately tried out in all winds Only throe of tiro proposed five trials had been held. Tho Avalon had not turned out on two occasions. Referring to tho second trial held last Tuesday', Mr Macindoo said tiic tricky conditions should have nullified the test. If the trial was accepted as such, tbo performances were in favour of the Kona. Mr Macindoe suggested that a solution lay in the establishment of a fund for financing competing boats and insuring crews against loss of wages. The contest was too important to be treated as a training opportunity for boys, and the proposal to restrict the ages of members of the crows to twenty-one years was not in tho best interests. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. It is understood that Mr J 3 Somerville’s launch Hermione, which for a considerable time has been lying idle at Port Chalmers, is to be equipped with a high-powered engine in the near future, and will be stationed at Broad Bay . - ■

One of the local outboard enthusiasts recently took Ins motor to Brighton and attached it to a hired boat-. Ho is stated to have had a good deal of sport before being overcome by weed and pieces of driftwood. Another very enjoyable dance was held by the Broad Bay Club last Saturday evening. The floor was in tine order, and was thronged by a large and representative crowd. Another dance, fancy dress will be held'by the club at Portobollo to-morrow evening. The officials of' the Port Chalmers regatta were put to a good deal of inconvenience on Saturday through boat owners asking such questions as to their handicaps, time of starting, etc., which was clearly set out in the programmes. The programmes are sokMn order to raise money to make tho fixture a success, and if boat owners cannot spare the necessary sixpence with which to buy one tho event would be better without them, LIFE PRESERVERS. The fatality on Monday night last brings homo very forcibly the need for wearing life preservers. There are many sorts of life preservers and jackets on the market, and each _ lias its advantages, but no boat, especially speed boats and small yachts, should be without them. One kind which “ For’ard Hand ” has used for several years is easily made as follows: —Take about Iyd of strong calico or Italian cloth, and cut double to the fronts ol an old vest. Machine them round on tho inside, turn, and fill well with kapok, keeping it stuffed well round the shoulders. Quilt and stitch so that the kapok will not sag when wet, and stitch firmly to tho inside of the vest, and you have at the same ■ time a serviceable life saver and a warm vest. ABOUT FLAGS. An aquatic fixture seldom passes without some gross offence as to the law of flags. Usually it is made in ignorance, though some are not, and it is against tho latter that all yachtsmen should feci resentment for bringing shame on the whole by the actions of a fea;. Flags flown in a slovenly manner show the typo of skipper the boat has. Following is a brief summary of the main rales for the' flying of flags at sea.— ' A launch will tly the ensign aft on a staff and the club flag from the masthead, or when a mast is not stepped from a staff in tho bows.

A yacht will lly tho ensign from the peak when the sail is hoisted (from a point about onc-tbircl from tbe head in a Marconi-rigged boat), or from a staff in the stern when tbe sail is lowered, tho club flag being flown from the mast-head always. When dressing ship (unfortunately more owners do not carry out this picturesque method of decoration) the dressing lines from tho bows to the truck and from the truck to tho stern should be bar taut, sufficient space being left to ensure the topmost flags not being dragged through the block at the mast-head.

Mourning.—if it is necessary to halfmast a flag as a sign of mourning, it should bo hoisted to the truck first, and then brought down again to tho correct height (half-mast is really onethird of tho distance from the truck f. and hoisted to the truck again immediately the funeral is over. All flag officers of a club are entitled to a salute by dipping the ensign. The compliment will be returned by the officer concerned. The club flag will invariably be hoisted whenever the club ensign is flown. The club ensign is tho red en-

sign of New Zealand (the one with the stars). , Certain Hags such as tnc blue ensign, white ensign, Union Jack, etc., are not to bo flown indiscriminately, and there is a severe penalty for any breaches of this rule.