YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 21315, 20 January 1933, Page 4

YACHTING

A YACHTSMAN’S DIARY. Strang Cup race (North-cast Harbour). —January 21. Cornwell Cup contest—January 25. Port Chalmers Club’s races—January 28. Sanders Cup contest at Lyttelton— February 1. Burkes-St. Leonards regatta—February 11. Ravensbourne Club’s open race—February 18. Ravensbourne regatta—February 25.

AUCKLAND’S CHALLENGER. The Idler, which will represent Auckland at the Sanders Cup contest, is over twelve years old, but has not done a great deal of racing (states an exchange). The Auckland Association has decided not to support Wellington’s remit, which provides that only Roua-Jellicoe boats conforming to the 1923 plans he eligible to compete. The remit submitted by Otago, providing for the substitution of a V-bottom type of boat, 18ft overall, sft 9in beam, Ift Sin depth, and carrying 140 square feet of sail, in place of the present fourteenfooters, was not approved, but it was left to the delegates to vote as they thought fit, after hearing the views of the southern associations.

A FORMIDABLE COMBINATION. A writer says it has been proved beyond a doubt that George Brassed, who has been selected to sail the Avenger in defence of the Sanders Cup, is the most skilful skipper of small sailing boats in Canterbury. Prior to the last contest at Wellington many of the older hands in yachting circles were very doubtful about Canterbury’s chances with the Avenger, seeing that the boat had such a young skipper and crew, but during one of the hardest contests to date Brassed proved that he was too much for the older and more experienced men competing against him. Although it was the first occasion on which he had sailed a boat in the contest his uncanny judgment and ability to make up his mind when in a seemingly hopeless position showed him to be the most outstanding man in the contest. In the recent series of trials Brassed won five out of six, and astonished Lyttelton yachtsmen by_ defeating the Avenger in one race in a boat which was considered the slowest of those taking part. SANDERS CUP WEEK. The yachtsmen and delegates visiting Lyttelton for the Sanders Cup contest will be given a civic reception by the Mayors of Lyttelton and Christchurch at noon on Tuesday, January 31, and the dominion conference will open the same afternoon. Tentative arrangements have been made for the first race to take place on Wednesday, February 1. A dance, a smoke concert, and a motor run are among the entertainments planned for the visitors. On Saturday, February 4, the Canterbury Sailing and Power Boat Association’s regatta will be held.

WANGANUI RIVER CARNIVAL. An intimation that the Wanganui River carnival is to he held this year on January 23 is contained in a letter from that body to the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association. As Sir Charles Kingsford-Smith is to arrive in Wanganui on that date, the committee is to co-operate with the local aero club, and arrangements have been made to hold the carnival in close proximity to the air port, where there is an excellent stretch of river water, especially suitable for outboards. That the committee hopes for entries from distant 'centres is intimated by the statement that travelling expenses up to £3 are guaranteed, the prize money to be offset against this. Cub members will also arrange to billet competitors if required. PORT CHALMERS REGATTA. The Port Chalmers regatta, which is to be hold to-morrow, promises to be a most successful one. Thirteen events are allowed for on the programme, and the number of entries that have come in is very satisfactory. Oarsmen arc catered for in nine events, while there are two for motor boats and two for sailing craft. The committee has been working hard to make the regatta a success, and has left no. stone unturned. Provided the . weather is fine there should be plenty to interest both boating people and the general public. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM. Owing to the date of the Strang Cup race clashing with that of the first senes of Port Chalmers Club races, the committee of the North-east Harbour Boating Club has decided to postpone the former race indefinitely. Yachtsmen will regret to learn of the illness of the jovial commodore of the North-cast Harbour Boating Club (Captain E. R. Nicholas), and will wish him a speedy recovery. A large number of boats, both sailin£ and power craft was ut the .Heads last week-end, and the perfect weather tempted several to make a run outside the harbour. , The 40-footer previously owned by Mr Fountain, of Port Chalmers, lias been secured by a Dunedin syndicate, and is now at the Boat Harbour, uherc a new engine is to bo installed. The Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association has decided not to suppoin Wellington’s remit, which provides that only Rona-Jellicoo boats contonnin<r to the 1923 plans should he •eligible to compete. The. remit submitted by Otaoo, providing for the substitution of a V-hottom tv pc of boat, 18ft overall, sft Bin beam, Ht Bin depth, and carrying 140 square feet of sail, m place of the present 14-footers, was not approved, hut it was left to the delegates to vote as they thought fit, after hearing the views of the southern associations.