YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 20653, 28 November 1930, Page 14

YACHTING

[By Fob’akd Hand.]

YACHTING CALENDAR. —1930. November 29.—Sanders Cup trial December 6.—Otago Yacht Chib races; Sanders and Cornwell Cup trials. December 20.—Vauxliall Club races. December 26.—Macandrew Bay re-, gatta. —1931. January I—Broad Bay regatta. January 17.—Ravensbournd Club races; Otago Club races. February 21.—Otago Yacht Chib races.' March 21.—Otago Yacht Club races. SANDERS CUP CONTEST. The dates for the first three races of the Sanders Cup contest are as follow : February 17, 18, and 19, 1931. BURKES-ST. LEONARDS’ REGATTA Rumours to the effect that the popular regatta held annually at St. Leonards is to fall through are apparently without foundation judging from the tenor of a circular letter over the signature of Mr W. J. Bardsley, president of the Burkes-St. Leonards’ Progress Leagiie. _ The circular calls attention to a meeting to be held in the local hall on Monday evening to make arrangements for next year’s event. It does not require any argument that these regattas have had the effect of bringing before the public in a convincing manner the pleasing aquatic and scenic attractions of the charming harbourside district. It ought to be the aim of the residents of the district to foster and develop these natural characteristics by lending all their aid and influence. These are not the days when enterprises can be allowed to decline or drift; rather are they days demanding increased co-operative vitality and push. On the two previous occasions, while the whole qf the district enjoyed the pleasure which the regattas created, the actual attendant work fell on the shoulders of a comparatively small number of willing workers. If, however, the male adult residents would take their share and throw in their weight it would be possible to surpass previous successes, adding lustre to the district. WAKE UP, SKIPPERS! The most promising skipper seen out in the Sanders Cup trials so far is C. Pettitt, the Vauxhall helmsman. The trials have done nothing other than to produce; Pettitt, who has taken the fancy of . the class, enthusiasts by his capable handling of Squib. The second trial.was an uninteresting event, and any interest that ‘ ‘ For-ard Hand” possessed was effectively

squashed when all the skippers, except Pettitt, hopelessly’ tangled themselves at the initial start. For five years now this writer has watched the trials, and he does not recall having seen a more comic situation. Some of the spectators roared with laughter, while others held their heads in shame that the province’s hopes should be so hopeless in their interpretation of simple instructions. Unless the skippers take a firmer grip of themselves few will have faith in any one of them to sail Otago’s boat with consistent judgment and steadiness in the contest. If they lose their heads at the start of a trial, how will they act in the excitement of a contest clash? It is a disturbing question which must be asked. At the hands of A. Hunter Eileen is not showing her past superiority, while W. J. P. M'Culloch has as yet failed to produce his skill of a few years back. I. M'Grath sailed a poor race in Winifred. While the competitors have not been putting their hearts into the trials, the association members are working hard raising funds to finance the contest. A concert has been arranged, for the Town Hall, on November 16. Mr R. Bryant, of, the Orphans’ Club, is organising the performers, and he can be relied on- to present a programme of high quality. POOR DESIGNS. “ Ex-fisherman ” makes the following reply, in a letter to the editor, of the remarks on poor designs in last week’s issue:— Sir,—Kindly allow me a small space in which to express a little grievance that I noticed printed in the yachting notes of your paper, headed ‘ Poor Designs.’ Your correspondent states that boats_ should be made' a little more pleasing to the eye. We have pleasure craft, and build our cabins to suit our, as well as our passengers’, comfort, not to please Mr Correspondent’s eye. Ho also states that they could be made into pretty-looking craft, instead ot hideous-looking boxes. Then, further down, he states that yatchsmen per* sist in building hideous cabin tops on small boats. Firstly, I want to ask your correspondent: Has any launch, with its hideous cabin top, ever capsized by being top-heavy, by being crowded, _ or by being blown over by a strong wind? Secondly, has Mr Correspondent ever been the proud owner of one of these small craft? And, lastly, could he pick a good seaworthy boat if he saw one, or pick out all the faults in the construction of amateurbuilt boats? Judging by the remarks passed about these craft, Mr Correspondent is neither a naval architect nor the holder of a marine engineer’s certificate of any kind. lam the owner of a small launch, and small as she is Mr Correspondent’s eyes would drop out of his head if he saw the sea she could face without even splashing tho cabin deck. Mr Correspondent, wo have one of the most beautiful harbours in the dominion, and we want to encourage yachting, and please do not try to break the hearts of the launch owners, who have not the £.s.d. to make their boats into crystal palaces. We, not tho spectators, are enjoying the .pleasure out of our “hideous-look-ing boxes,” so do not tighten your life- ' belt until a roller breaks over the masthead light.—l am, etc., Ex-Fisheeman. [While some of the owners may be proud of and are enjoying the pleasure of “their ugly-looking boxes,’ ’ theii joy does not express the feelings of others. A “penn’orth of tar” has spoilt many a good ship, and for a few pounds, or cheap advice, several launch owners could be taking more pride in their boats.—“Fpr’ard Hand.” FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. The North-east Harbour Club intends holding an “at homo ” for the ladies, and the committee has the arrangements well in hand. Tho event will bo held in the shed, and an invitation has been issued to any boats that may • be passing to bring in their passengers for a cup of tea. The nomination from the North East Club for the Cornwell Cup trials are V. Bewley and H. Gabegan, who will sail Betty,' and R. Tyrie and I. Cameron, who will be in Sigma X. ( Dave Jenkins seems to be wellpleased with bis new launch, Rena. This boat was originally built for the Christchurch Exhibition regatta, and is of oak throughout, with a copper bottom. After the fixture she went to Titri, where she saw service on the Taieri River for some time, and was finally left to rot in a back yard on Pine Hill. She was saved from this end, however, and with the twp-stroke engine with which she is engined, should make a handy craft. The committee at work on arrangements for the regatta on Boxing Day is determined to make a success of this popular fixture. REGATTA RULES. The associaiou is to be commended on reminding clubs that a boat’s name is not to appear on a regatta programme unless the prescribed form has been filled in. For some years now it has been the practice to include the name of practically every boat on the harbour which was eligible for a particular race in tho programme without so much as a “ By your leave” from the owner. If the boat started the’ entry fee was paid; if she did not it did not matter. This state of affairs gave casual spectators a false impression of yachtsmen as a whole. On Several occasions “For’ard Hand” has heard the remark passed when only four or five boats have got away, and the programme showed at least twice that number of entrants, that yachting must be a poor sport if the participants could not turn out for a race after they had'entered for it.

It is to be hoped that this decision will be the beginning of better times, and those in authority in yachting circles should consider the tightening up all round of the rules governing sailing at regattas. Especially glaring are the breaches of rules concerning the flying of class colours and the displaying of numbers. The Yacht Racing Association required every yacht to carry at her main topmast head a rectangular distinguishing flag which must not be hauled down unless the yatch gives up the race, while she must carry on both sides of the sail her official number. In the past the regulations have been rather lax, hut now it is hoped that the sailing judges will harden their hearts and instantly disqualify any boat failing to conform to the rule's. It lyjll be better in the loiig run,.