YACHTING NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 22575, 17 February 1937, Page 4

YACHTING NEWS

[By Spinnaker.]

February 20.—Wiseman Cup race; Port Chalmers Yacht and Motor Boat Club.

February 21.—Otago Yacht Club. February 27.—Ravensbournc Regatta. March 6.—Vauxhall Power (Boat and Sailing Club; Mussel Bay Aquatic Club; Ravensbourne Local > Challenge Cup. March 13.—Broad Bay Regatta. March 14.—Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club (veterans’ race). March 20.—Ravensbourne Boating Club (Cuthbert Cup). March 26.—Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club. March 27.—Broad Bay Boating Club. March 29.—North-east Harbour Boating Club. April 3. Ravensbourne Boating Club. April 10.—Combined Otago Yacht Club and Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club. April 24.—North-cast Harbour Boating Club. THE SANDERS GUP PRESIDENT'S REPDRT “ Spinnaker ” has received the following report on the Sanders _ Cup races from the association president, Mr W. J. Bardsley, who considered that, -as no meeting was held) on Monday last, as was hoped l , and the contest concluded mi February 8, lie did not think he should hold back his report to the association until February 22. He is of the opinion that aquatic people will be waiting for some information from someone who was on the spot. In his report he states: “ When the Wellington challenger Lavina could win five races out of seven at Lyttelton, losing only one by a few seconds, there is not much room for two opinions as to her suitability as a trier for the Sanders Cup, or of the ability of J. Coleman, her skipper, and his youthful crew. In your name I took the earliest opportunity of congratulating the Wellington representatives on their handsome win. “ The winning of the coveted cup is still a goal to be aimed at by o,ur boating enthusiasts. Unsolicited, the council has offered our association the opportunity of the competition next year. This we can consider' later, if the proposal is approved by the other associations. If .this would be-an incentive to greater interest o.ur acceptance would seem to be desirable. The arrangements in connection with the various races were excellent, and everything ran with clock-like precision. Mr W. H, Beanland, as secretary of the Canterbury Association and chairman of the cup council, fully merited the congratulations which were freely extended to his association and himself personally. The civic welcome to delegates and crews and the arrangements for their social enjoyment were marked with genuine earnestness. “Naturally, wo would have liked to see our boat occupying the _ winning position, but this we were denied. Admittedly, we are disappointed, but who has reason more than any other to be disappointed than Pettit himself, for has he not put_ his time, money, and thought into his boat, and was, naturally hopeful of success. I have no hesitancy in saying, however, that Pettit and his crew have nothing whatever to be ashamed of in the manner in which they handled, the Lynette. “The sailing conditions were varied, and with the weather could be described) as almost ideal. The council held several meetings, the minutes of which will be submitted later for your approval or otherwise. “Mr Bewley, our manager, who practically lived on the water for several days, will give his report of the races generally.”

MISS OTAGO RECOMMISSIONED Miss Otago, after the unfortunate mishap at Picton, is now completely dismantled. The engine has been taken down wholly for overhaul and improvement, and quotations have been invited for the supply of a new bottom for the craft. She will have a new keel and keelson, extra frames, and her sides reri vetted between'' the original fastenings. It was unfortunate that no race was run in Dunedin between Miss Otago and Pelorus Jack, as an excellent comparison of speeds would have been made. Local regattas have not given the public sufficient idea of the thrills of a speed boat contest of craft capable of over 60 miles an hour, as racing with Miss Victory, well out of her class,_ Miss Otago was able only to give an indication of her own performance when almost extended. OTAGO REGATTA Only two races of interest to yachtsmen were run on Sunday in the South Island championship regatta, after a' cancellation had been decided on the preceding day through unfavourable conditions. These races were the Sir Henry Seagrave and Sell Memorial Cup contests. Even on the Sunday the water was too rough for Pelorus Jack, which, with Mr W, Sell’s Miss Victory, fought out the races. They were marred by two things: First, the weather, and second, the shortness of the laps which formed the course. With a craft like Pelorus Jack, which travels at about 60 miles an hour under ordinary conditions, a reasonable distance must be allowed for her to use her speed, rather than have it constricted to a small part of the. journey by the necessity for slowing to, take the turns. In the case of Miss Victory the same thing applied, but to a lesser extent. Times for both races were not fast, attributable to the shortness of the laps and the choppy seas, which were not conducive to speedy going. Another factor was the interference of a yachting race with Pelorus Jack. She was forced to reduce her speed to some purpose, and indeed almost had a collision with the sailer. Surely the programme was not so full that more courtesy could not have been shown tho visitors. Ample time was at the disposal of the authorities, and since a postponement of the race had already been taken, -another or a more prolonged one would not have interfered with arrangements to any extent, and would have given Pelorus Jack a victory both by an outright win and by the fastest time, as she was only 3sec behind the winner. After the races, when the Picton boat had been forced to withdraw in the second through the roughness of the water, Messrs Wiseman, Sutton, Murphy, Armstrong, and Hewitt were taken by the Masport Cup winners , for a little jaunt, which was much appreciated by all, particularly by that veteran yachtsman Mr Wiseman.■ PORT CHALMERS CLUB RAGES The second of the series of club races was sailed at Port Chalmers on Sunday morning in unfavourable _ weather. There was a south-westerly wind, which varied considerably in force during the course of the race, with an ebb tide. Shadow got away first to a running start, followed by Kia Ora, Foam, Toroa, and Eileen, the last-named being some minutes late. The_ run to _ th< bottom mark was made in fast time the rounding being Shadow, Kia Ora Foam, Toroa, and Eileen. The latte; displaced Toroa on the up beat, thi being the only change-in the positions In the second round the order remained the same. Kia Ora in the last stag< of the journey made good use of thchange of tide to reduce lead The finishing order was; Shadow, KiOra, Foam, and Eileen. The handicaps, however, resulted ir the following placings: - Kia Orr (4min) 1, Shadow (scr) 2, Foam .(smin' 3. Kia Ora won by 30sec. WISEMAN CUP Next Saturday a further series of races will be held. The winner of this contest will hold the Wiseman Cup for one year, a miniature also being given to serve as permanent trophy. The cup is a fine one, and there should be keen competition for the honour of being the first to hold it.