YACHTING NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 22890, 23 February 1938, Page 4

YACHTING NEWS

[By Spinnaker.]

FIXTURES. February 26.—Ravensbourne Regatta. March s.—North-east Harbour Club, Hook Cup; Ravensbourne Club, Ross Cup. March 12 - .—North-east Harbour Club, Oliphant Cup. March 19.—Otago Yacht Club’s races. March 26. —Vauxhall Club races. April 2.—Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club races (Vauxhall Cup, Sell Memorial Shield, Wakefield Cup). April 9.—Ravensbourne Boating Club (Cuthbert Cup). April 16.—Broad Bay Sailing Club races. April 28.—North-east Harbour Boating Club (club traces and veterans’ race). March 13.—Vauxhall Club, allcomers’ race. April 3.—Vauxhall Club, old-timers’ race, MOST POPULAR DESIGN HISTORY OF IDLE-ALOHGS With the third contest to decide the Idle-along yachting championship of New Zealand at Picton, the Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor Association prepared a history of this popular class of boat (states the Christchurch ‘ StarSun’). It is interesting to recall that the design of this type of boat was the work of a Wellington yachtsman, Mr A. G. Harvey, and that, it is quickly spreading throughout the entire yachting world. The unexpected growth of the Idlealong has made this type of yacht so popular that it has outnumbered any class designed in New Zealand or Australia, and it is probably on a proportional basis the most popular of any class in the world. ONLY AN EXPERIMENT. When the Worser Biy Club was .formed in 1926, a boat of about 12ft, easy to build, not too expensive, and, above all, as safe as a srtiail boat could be, was the desire of the club members. It had to be a class boat that all could build. The Idle-along was designed by Mr Harvey, then commodore of the club, to fulfil this purpose, but the design was so unorthodox and so different from any existing type of boat that it was regarded more or less as an experiment in the rough waters of Wellington Harbour. Another type of boat was then popular throughout New Zealand, and the Idle-along design was put on the shelf by the designer in favour of the other one-design' class. In September, 1930, the first Idlealong was built at Petone as a knockabout boat. It was so outstanding, and so easily, handled in a rough seal that three more were built within a few months, two of these at Worser Bay by G. Cain and N. M'Kenzie, and one at Petone by J. Tetley. In March, 1931, F. Mumford built the fifth Idle-along. The five boats competed at Paremata regatta, and easily outclassed any other 12ft 6in boat. This was the start of their popularity. At the beginning of the 1982-33 season Mr Harvey built the Colleen for Evans Bay. This boat won the championship for 13ft and under class, and was such a consistent performer in all weathers, even venturing out when larger boats were kept on their moorings, that at the start of the following year Evans Bay possessed nine Idlealongs. j APPROVED AS CLASS BOAT. In 1932 the Wellington Association approved of the design as a class boat, and a blue print was then made standard. H. Ostler, Christchurch, at that time was anxious to try out the boat for Lyttelton, and four boats were built in Canterbury. The class was growing fast when S.' Reid, Petone, presented the Idle-along Challenge Shield for all-comers. In March, 1933, 22 Idle-alongs competed for this shield in a 45-mile-an-hour blow. Several hundred people watched the race from the Worser Bay foreshore, and Captain W. J. Keane proclaimed the performance as one of the best he had witnessed. Small boats which sailed for a championship in such weather had a future to be envied. In the 1934 season 40 Idle-alongs were registered in Wellington, and about the same number in. Canterbury. This year nearly 200 Idle-alongs are afloat in New Zealand waters, and from Whangarei to Invercargill more Idle-alongs are being built. This class has been the means of encouraging into the sport young men who could not afford a more expensive boat. An Idle-along can be built complete for £2O. Young men who have served their time in the junior classes find the Idle-along an inexpensive:

luxury., It is fast in . both light and heavy weather, and if_ capsized can be righted and sailed with all sails set and the cockpit full of \Sftter. This feat has been performed j-epSatedly on Wellington Harbour. In the New Zealand championship all competing crews are billeted, thus reducing expenses, and the contest is decided on a points systspi of five races only. . ■ • Idle-alongs constitute a ‘ restricted class, and the rule of measuring has a fair margin, so that every yachtsman who can use a hammer, saw, and plane can build a boat to compete for a New Zealand championship. The yachtsmen of ‘Wellington have donated a cup for this popular event. WISEMAN CUP TO FOAM Open to all yachts on the, harbour, the race for the Wiseman Cup was sailed on Saturday afternoon, Foam—sailed by W. Watson—heading a . field of 11 starters to carry off the trophy. The event was sailed under the auspices of tho Port Chalmers Sailing Club, over the Portobello course. The fleet made a fine sight as the competitors jockeyed for positions at the start. Across the' line the order was Shadow, Popeye, and Dawn, the others being bunched together. On the beat, Dawn and Shadow had a great tussle for leadership, and to retain their advantage; Miti, a late

starter, had' almost , overtaken- them. First the how of one would show in front, then the other would. displace her. Foam and Kaiora were handy all the way. „ Dawn, however, outpaced Shadow to record the fastest time, hut the placings, after handicaps had been' taken .into consideration, were:— Foam 1 Kaiora (16min) ... ... ... 2 Shadow (7min). 1.. 3 v The most unlucky boat on the day was the Toroa, which unfortunately capsized when in a" winning position. Her crew had sailed a-fine race until then, as did all those of the smaller boats. A choppy , sea made the skippers exercise caution. The junior cup race, which was sailed in conjunction with the_ Wiseman Cup event, resulted in a win for Popeye, with Run a and Rascal in the next positions. The course for this race, ’ which was the final club event for the season, was from the club shed, round,a. buoy in Lower Portobello, and then- back to the shed, tho boats twice completing the circuit. The experiment of trying this course has proved very successful. Many of the difficulties in connection with tidal sailing are eliminated, while much closer racing has resulted. Viewed in retrospect, the club races for the season have been most successful. The most satisfactory feature was the interest taken by the younger members. The club now has four Takapuna boats, and there is every possibility of two more being added by next season. This augure well for the success of the club. NIGEL BLAIR'S RETIREMENT In a letter to a member of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, Nigel Blair, the Wellington Sanders Cup skipper, states that on hia return to Wellington he resigned his seat in the Kitty. The other members of the crew, with one exception, also resigned. The new skipper ,of Wagstaffe’s, boat will he Jim Hollands. _ This definitely confirms Blair’s intention of retiring from active participation in Sanders Cup contests, though it is understood that he will he on hand to give pointers to future representatives. ROSS, OLIPHANT, AND HOOK CUPS It has been arranged between the Ravensbourne Boating Club and the North-east Harbour Boating Club that the Ravensbourne Ross Cup race shall be held on March 5, while the latter will sail the Hook Cup (for junior yachtsmen of 21 years of age or under) on the same day. The Oliphant Cup will now be competed for on March 12.