YACHTING NEWS

Evening Star, Issue 23449, 14 December 1939, Page 9

YACHTING NEWS

TIME FOR A "NEW DEAL" RECONSTITUTION AND TRIALS SUGGESTIONS WILL YACHTSMEN POINT THE WAY 7 [By Spinnaker.] Drastic alterations in the constitution and policy of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association are overdue. This must be quite obvious to any thinking person. First, " Spinnaker considers representation on the association should be by numerical strength, not, however, so that the delegates scut by one club (necessarily that with the greatest membership) should total more than those from the remainder of the clubs. A corollary to this should be that selfish interests of any club should be lost sight of for the ultimate benefit of the whole association of clubs. Since delegates are more concerned with yachting affairs than with motor boat interests, experienced yachtsmen should as far as possible be sent as delegates. Motor boat interests represent only a small proportion of the business of the association, .and mainly aro the Masport Cup challenge, regatta entries and prizes, and follow-up boats, for example. Power boat clubs should have one delegate to watch powered craft interests, but he should refrain from voting on questions that are essentially yachting and do not affect It should'be strictly obligatory to all delegates to rise to their feet when addressing the chair or speaking on any subject, to avoid ceaseless interjection and interruption. Members _ should speak once on any subject, with further contributions at the permission of the chairman. Delegates to the association should not be hound hand and foot by club policy, but should be given freedom to act on their own initiative, though adhering to club principles as closely as possible. , A sub-committee of three experienced yachtsmen with all the necessary qualifications should be sot up to adjudicate on all protests that come before tho association from clubs for final consideration, with the power to give an irrevocable decision. * What must be stressed, however, if the above suggestions are to have any beneficial effect, is • the need for cooperation. Reconstitution is a move, that can only come from within. If the aim is to be. as it should be, th» furtherance of the best interests of the sport, which " Spinnaker " has advocated for yeaTs, there should be experienced yachtsmen sent forward .as delegates, and no " sitting on the fence " in vital matters. So much for that administrative aspect. As for the Sanders Cup ; Idlealong, or Takapuna representatives, a definite system of selection should be evolved. It should bo one in which the aim is to pick the best boat and the best crew. Sailing judges _ should be given full power in their choice of both, and the association should not have the power to revoke this decision in favour of any other, but should either confirm it or reject it There should be trial races sailed, as many as thought necessary by the sailing judges, who should not be committed to any definite number at the start of the trials, which should start at as early a date as possible. Two trials should be run each Sunday, and none on Saturdays, to give crews practice in sailing two races in one day, as under contest conditions. Club fixtures would thus not be interfered with. In order to give tho crew selected a chance to become accustomed to a strange boat, if necessary, trials should bo concluded early. Crews should give assurances when selected that they will (practise on as many occasions as possible before leaving to participate in any contest, An assurance in writing should be sought from yacht owners that their boats will be at the disposal of the association, if required, prior to the trials starting. Sailing judges should be three, with full qualifications for the post. Trials should be sailed under strict Sanders Cup rules, not to encourage trivial protests to be brought forward, but to test a skipper's knowledge of seamanship- and rules. Protests should be considered by the sailing judges only, on their merits, but should) not be factors in influencing the ultimate decision unless it is obvious a skipper has committed! a breach through palpable ignorance of sailing rules. A fourth man selected should be a heavy man. If considered an assistance to sailing judges, skippers and crews should! be transferred into other boats for trial, or sails transferred with due warning, or any unit of a,crew placed in any boat for trial purposes. These suggestions refer principally to Sanders Cup trials. These suggestions should be construed as an endeavour to point the way to a better basis on which to continue yachting and trials in Otago. Opinions differ with the man, and there may be more satisfactory methods. " Spinnaker " would invite pertinent criticism or suggestions of other ways to help the sport to go ahead. Tt is time for a " New Deal " in yachting Let yachtsmen point the way. MACANDBEW BAY REGATTA. Closing date for the entries for the North-east Harbour Club's regatta on Boxing Day has been extended to December 18. This will be the first function under which the new association rule regarding entries applies, and only a few entries had been forwarded up to to-day, when entries were to have closed under the new conditions. Tho rule provides that the entries must be lodged with the club 13 days before the regatta, accompanied by entry fee. So, after Monday next, the N.E.H.B.C. will not be able to receive further entries. Those desiring to assist the club by competing should forward their entrios "promptly. OTAGO CENTENNIAL REGATTA. On February 10, 1940, the Otago Centennial regatta will be held. Sailing events number four, with a total prize money of £3l, and motor boats three of £26. Following is the programme arranged:—Takapuna (Z class) yachts (skipper to be under 19 years of age), sailing race (under 18ft), Jellicoe class yachts, all-comers' yacht race, motor boats (eight miles an hour and under), motor boats, (over eight miles an hour), speed boats. Entries close with the secretary (T. A. Armstrong, Port Chalmers) on January 27. No entry will be accepted unless accompanied with the necessary entry fee.