YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 20979, 18 December 1931, Page 15

YACHTING

[By Thi Bailik Bot.] YACHTSMAN’S CALENDAR. December 26.—Macandrew Bay regatta. January I.—Broad Bay regatta. January 2.—Elliott Cup race, Macandrew Bay. January 9. —RarensbouVne Boating Club's races. O.Y.C. cruising race to Broad Bay. January 23.—North-east Harbour Club, races and ladies’ day. February 6. Burkes-St. Leonards regatta. February 13.—North-east Harbour Club rages. Launch and yacht races, Vauxhall. February 20. —O.Y.C. second series of races. March 5. —North-east Harbour Club races and R.N.V.R. v. Sea Scouts. Vauxhall regatta. April 2.—Oliphant Cpp race and club races, Vauxhall. April 9.—Vauxhall Cup and Sell Memorial Shield races, Vauxhall. BOXING DAY REGATTA. Latest reports state that entries for the regatta to bo held at Macandrew Bay on Boxing Day are coming in well, and all arrangements are well forward. A large and enthusiastic meeting of the committee was held on Monday evening, when it was reported that the courses were to be laid down and measured by the officials of the Otago Harbour Board, and a flag is to be placed on the sand bank at the starting lino to mark the edge of shallow water. Word has been received from Sir Charles Statham, M.P. for the district, stating that ho will attend the regatta, accompanied by Lady Statham. OTAGO YACHT CLUB. The races on Saturday, held over the club’s course, were very successful! The entries in the 14ft and under sailing race were disappointing, and the race was abandoned. Boat owners are advised to enter now for the cup races to be held on January 9, for which large entries are already in the hands of the secretary. Owing to the popularity of the openair dances the Social Committee has decided to hold these functions on Wednesday and Thursday of each week. The dance next Saturday evening at the Boat Harbour promises to be another good one. Special novelties will be introduced, and members and friends are promised a happy time. Wednesday of next week will be the final dance for this year, and January 13 is fixed for the first dance next year. , The dance held at the Boat Harbour on Wednesday was the best yet staged. Representatives from sister clubs were present, and were deeply impressed with the club’s effort. Sister clubs are warmly welcomed to' these functions, and boats are cared for, so _ that the visitors have no anxiety on this score. The first annual picnic of combined clubs will bo held in February. The committee is considering this matter at the moment, and arrangements for a combined clubs’ boating picnic will be advised later. NEW LAUNCH FOR AUCKLAND. A new motor boat of striking appearance has just been completed to ■ the order of Mr W. Goodfellow by the Invincible Boat ' Company (states the Auckland ‘Herald’). Known as a sedan runabout, the vessel is 30ft in length, and has a beam of 7ft. She is of the V-bottom type, and is the first of her particular kind to be designed and built in the dominion. The hull, which is polished, is constructed of Honduras • mahogany, the decking is of mohagany and kauri, and tho frames of solid pohutukawa. The boat has two cockpits, one forward and one aft, the engine being installed amidships. The forward cockpit is 7ft by sft, and is enclosed with a sedan top and winding glass windows. All controls are arranged in this compartment, which has seating accommodation for eight adults. It is upholstered in grey leather. In addition to having tho self-starter and other controls mounted qn the dash bpard, provision has been made for an eight-valve radio set to be installed. The motive power is a 225 h.p. sixcylinder Kerraath engine, equipped with a self-starter and cooled with the latest fresh water system. Access to the engine is gained by two folding hatches, which open outward. When closed the hatches form part of the decking. The auxiliary benzine tank is placed on one side of the motor, and a fresh water tank on the other side. The rear cockpit is 4ft by 3ft 6m, and has seating accommodation for four persons, it is fitted with spring seats, and side pockets, similar to a motor car. The afterdeck is 3ft 6in. Under tliis deck is the main benzine tank, containing eighty gallons of petrol. The foredeck is equipped with a streamline bow plate and mooring cleat. A searchlight is also carried on deck in addition to tho usual running lights. The deck and other fittings are chromium plated, v’.ich gives the boat a very smart appearance. The boat will be launched early next week, and will he known as the Meteor. A speed of thirty miles an hour is an-

ticipated when she is properly tuned up. According to the builders, the cost of the boat complete is in the vicinity of £1,600. She will bo used on the Waiternata. , • FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. Rear-admiral Blake is a keen yachtsman, and has evidently interested the Governor-General, Lord Blcdisloo, in the sport. At a recent meeting of the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee, a letter was received from Rearadmiral Blake stating that His Excellency would be in residence in Auckland during January, and had expressed his intention of visiting the flagship. Also that if it could lie arranged he would like to sail on one of the competing yachts. Arrangements will be made to carry out His • Excellency’s wish in this respect. Always a keen supporter of the Takapuna boats, Mr H. C. Brown has purchased a new sail for the use of the local boys when sailing in the Cornwell Cup trials at Wellington. The final Sanders Cup trials in Southland wore field on the Invercargill Estuary on Saturday, when Val, which had previously won one race, won two further trials running, and was selected to represent the province.