YACHTING NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 22193, 22 November 1935, Page 6

YACHTING NEWS

[By "Gybe.”]

(Secretaries of clubs are requested to forward brief notes of general interest before Tuesday of eacb. week to ensure insertion.).

THIRD TRIAL RAGE

It is to be hoped that the Sailing Committee will not repeat its glaring mistake for the remainder of the Sanders Cup trials of racing Betty with & crew unaccustomed to her individual vagaries. Betty is probably the best boat in the harbour, and; like all fast yachts of her class, she possesses certain peculiarities that require _ a thorough study. It was hardly fair, therefore, to expect Mason’s crew to sail a good race. Her skipper was not confident throughout the course, and as was expected gave a disappointing display. However, it is presumed that the committee, now that it has taken such drastic measures, will leave this experienced crew to handle Betty for the rest of the races and give it every assistance to become acclimatised to the craft’s foibles. Eileen’s victory, a meritorious one, was due entirely to her superior weather qualities, and although she started slowly it was soon evident that she had Val’s measure. Cuthbert sailed a very fine race, and especially on the close haul gave away no chances. It was none of his making that the leading jib used as a spinnaker carried away, but it would have been much safer had he cut the gear adrift rather than haul the sail down over the peak of the after leech and risk ruining the mainsail. ■' M'Grath and his crew are nearer contest standard than any of the others, though their exhibition certainly belied that impression. Every expedient was taken to val to windward, and in that direction it is questionable whether she was not sailed a little too free; certainly, in such a spanking! north-easterly as the contestants had' to contend with on Saturday Eileen beats her board for board. In heavy weather Winifred is never at her best, and even if outclassed every credit is given Wray for sailing a really fine race. This young skipper had no easy task from the gun, but, unlike Squib and Heather, he went the full course, and at all times had his difficult-to-handle craft well under conWith reference to Squib and Heather the question arises whether any ineligible boats for the contest should compete in the trials. Their inclusion undubitably tends to confuse the issue at the same time having no possible chance of assisting the province. TRIALS PRODUCE POOR STARTING. Getting a good start is half the battle in any race and any weather, and most important still in light weather. Good headway at the start is most desirable, but this has been one of the worst features of all three of the trial races. The best way is to keep about half a minute’s sail from the line on the fall of the fourth nag, and then to turn and go for the line on a course that gives you a free sheet if possible. Cross the line with your sheets properly trimmed for the first leg of your course. Don’t let the crew jump about, and when it is necessary to move do so quietly. If one man goes for’ard to set a sail another should move a bit aft to counter-balance his weight, as all but freak boats sail best when on their designed waterline. Success in light water is dependent on taking full advantage of every puff of wind, and it is under these conditions that the bottom requires to be very smooth. It pays well to finish her off with a good wax polish to reduce skin friction to a minimum. The balance of the boat is also more important in light airs. She should carry just a little weather helm on the wind, with the jib trimmed so that it will shake a little before the mainsail. NEW MASPORT CUP CONTENDER. Expected to be capable of between 60 and 70 miles an hour, a new speed boat to be fitted with a 300 horse-power engine is being built for Mr R. Moult, at 24 Rex street, Miramar, Wellington, and is already nearing completion. Should her trials show her to be satisfactory it is probable that the Baby Taubman will be entered for the annual high-speed race at Picton, for the MaSpor], Cup, competed for by craft from all over the Dominion. The Baby Taubman will measure 18ft overall, with a 6ft beam. She will be equipped with the 300 horse-power engine out of Miss Taubman, Mr Sfoult’s previous launch, well known to members of the Evans Bay Yacht Club, to which Mr Moult belongs. The race for the Masport Cup will take place at Picton about January $2, over a 15-milo course, including some 14 turns. Last year the average speed of the winner, Mr J. Brownlee’s Pelorus Jack, of Havelock, was 58 miles an hour. The highest speed attained was upwards of 60 miles an hour. Among the competitors in the race were boats from Otago, Wanganui, Picton, Havelock, Tory Channel, and Blenheim. SPINDRIFT.

The end of this month will see the opening of races in Wellington for the Rona-Jellicoe provincial championship. This year the championship for the Campbell Cup is at the same time to decide the Wellington Sanders Cup en-

trant. A series of five races will be sailed, under Sanders Cup rules, but five men may be nominated instead of four. Points will be allotted, one for the first boat home, two for the second, and so on, and the boat with the smallest aggregate will take the cup. The first boat to capsize will he counted as last boat home. Racing in the Sanders Cup trials is always keen, and provides some of the finest seamanship shown on tho harbour; this year, as a new incentive, has been added, it is expected that some outstanding sailing vyill be seen. INVERCARGILL LAUNCH. The latest addition to Invercargill’s power boat fleet is T. Stirland’s lino pleasure launch, Patricia. The boat is well known at Stewart Island, where she was used in the tourist trade. Prior to that she was at Queenstown, being known there as the Riverton. “BACK TO SAIL” MOVEMENT. The British Admiralty is strongly sponsoring a “ back to sail ” movement which will bring about yacht racing and cruising for present and former officers of the navy and the marines. Tho First Lord’s desire that officers and men should Undergo training in sail was not fulfilled. This involved the proposal, which was dropped some time ago, that one or more training brigs should bo built for this purpose. Consequently the Admiralty is giving its wholehearted support to the Naval Sailing Association which is about to be formed. STEERING ON THE WIND. It is impossible to over-rate tho importance of steering a boat well on the wind. On the other points of sailing you generally steer for a buoy or mark of some kind, and it is only a matter of keeping her as steady as possible and watching the sheets, but on a wind you can “cat ” out to windward and without “ pinching ” her get the best out of her by your own skill. There are many other .factors which make for speed, on or off the wind, such as the proper trim of the boat.