YACHTING NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 23093, 20 October 1938, Page 6

YACHTING NEWS

OTAGO FLEETS INCREASING SUCCESSFUL SEASON EXPECTED KEEN INTEREST IN CUP TRIALS [By Spinnaker. 3 Now that the weather is warmer, yachtsmen hoipe to enjoy the fruits of the labours that occupied many busy nights during the winter in the preparation of tneir craft. It will not be long before sail is seen set on all types of yachts in great numbers, heralding the advent of another season of racing. As early as the beginning of the month there were several skippers trying out their overhauled boats. _ , Indications are that this cording season will be .a most successful one from all points of view. There ,are more yachts coming out, and especially more interest is being shown in the Sanders Cup class, where there are at least 11 prospective entrants for the trials. Takaipunas will be also to the fore, with seven possible starters in the trials, while there should be enough Idlealongs this season to make a class for dub racing. This is a pleasing feature. Entries should he large at regattas, and if the weather is favourable both public and yachtsmen’s support will be readily forthcoming. It would seem that the fillip given the sport at the end of last season by the Sanders Cup races on the harbour has been maintained, and it is to be hoped it will continue.

Sanders Cup Trials. Naturally the chief attraction will be the trial races for the selection of the Otago representatives in the Sanders Cuip series. Rivalry will run higher than ever with the increased field, and public interest should be greater. On Saturday week the first ’of the series will be held under the usual conditions. It will be a windward and leeward course, with the starting line between the Rattray street buoy and the wharf, thence to a flagged buoy off Challis’s. From this point the entrants will round the Kitchener street buov and then go over the starting line again to begin the second and final round. All marks will be rounded on the starboard hand, while the first boat and crew winning three races will be those who will go to Bluff to contest the cup series for Otago. All of the probable entrants have been well overhauled during the off season, and this demonstrates strikingly the interest that skippers are taking. Among those who are likely to cross the line on Saturday week are, the Eileen, sailed by E. Cuthbert; Val (I. M'Lean); Colleen (H. Latimer) : Lynette (C. Pettit) : Evelyn (R. Todd); Heather (K. M'Culloch); Winifred ( Clarkson); Eunice ( Kibblewhite) ; Avenger (W. Mason); and Ripple (W. R. Wray). It is not known definitely yet whether Betty (L. Miller) will compete. Two new appearances under Dunedin ownership are among these names. First is the Avenger, which contested the last contest here for Canterbury. The other is a new boat, but it hails also from Lyttelton. She is the Ripple, which was built by F. Dobbie, who also turned out the Colleen and the Avenger, which won the cup on occasions. The Ripple has a bow modelled on that of Wellington’s Kitty, which carried off the cup last year under Nigel Blair. It is a field of which great racing can be expected. Avenger has been successful for Canterbury-, and Eileen and Heather for Otago m past years. The second race of the series will be run on November 5, starting from the Vauxhall Club’s shed, and then over the remainder of the course as outlined above, this giving the necessary triangular course.

Cornwell Cup Possibilities. t Of no less importance to the Takapuna owners will be the Cornwell Cup trials, which will begin on the same day as those of the Jellicoe class. The cup series will be sailed at Plimmerton, in the open sea course, on January 14 of next year. The first of the trial series will be sailed at Port Chalmers, and the “club ' there will probably be entering five challengers, among which will be two new boats. Runa, Popeye, and Val are comparative old-timers who will be in the race, while the Oakie and possibly the Sunray will go down from Ravensbourne. Mr A. Pettit is building a Takapuna. The first crew to win three races is to be selected, as in previous years, while an option is suggested that the winning skipper select another forward hand if he so desires to improve his crew. This is a contentious point, which is not likely to be accepted. Idlealong Fleet. Two more Idlealongs. will be seen in action on the harbour this season. Strangely enough, they will have different rigs—one, the Ranui, with the Bermuda, and the Vagabond with the Gunter. It will be interesting to watch the respective performances of these boats, if only for the settlement of the question of which type is the better rig for local conditions.' The former yacht was built for A. Cameron by F. Dobbie, while S. Kenna and J-. Thompson cooperated in making the Vagabond, which will race for the yacht club. E, Bagley will have his boat in the water at St. Leonards by Christmas, while R. E. Ham is reported to be building another which will bear the Broad Bay pennant. Also in this racing class will be the Mystery (nee Rio Rita), which was begun as an Idlealong, but was changed before completion. Altogether there should be some good racing in this division. Keelers and Others. Dawn (H. M. Nees) is in the water at Broad Bay. She has undergone a thorough overhaulj and this season will be trying out a painted deck instead of varnished. Miti stayed on the slip all winter, but should be in the water on Saturday. She has shipped now a permanent back stay. Shadow was unaltered over the winter, and it seems that she will be late in getting out. Among the Launches. Wairangi, a familiar, figure, has been sold to W. J. P. M'Culloeh, while the Ngaio has gone to Lyttelton, having been relinquished by Dr Cottrell. Kelvin has changed ownership, now being run by H. Borland. Electra has been sold to G. Neilson. Sadie K (M. Bachop) has been overhauled in hull and engine. Rambler, Daphne, and Marewa are being overhauled. After about 18 months of attention the Rastus, owned by L. Hogg, will appear with her hull rebuilt, and a new engine and cabins. All these are at the boat harbour. Waikere has been purchased by a Macandrew Bay syndicate of three. She has undergone a thorough overhaul, and is now hi,the water.

Notes. Opening day has been fixed for November 5, when it is expected there will be a good muster, ashore and afloat. The Vaushall Club will entertain visitors. •; • _ ' ' , There will be a meeting of the Syllabus Committee on Monday week, when the, club racing fixtures for the season will be drawn up. . . It is proposed to erect a new starting box on the top of the club shed at ilavensbourne. The Vauxhall shed has been improved by extensive decoration inside.