YACHTING NOTES

Grey River Argus, 11 March 1938, Page 4

YACHTING NOTES

(By "

“Mainsheet.”)

With the yachting season approaching an end, and with very few more weeks left when favourable sailing conditions can be looked forward to, the yachtsman’s mind naturally turns to the off season, in reality the working season, when all alterations, improvements, repainting, and rcrigging are to be seen td, and when the building section of our aquatic community will be busy. Already movement is to be noticed in the latter section, as plans and moulds are in demand, timber procuring and build-1 ing tips are topics spoken of almost everywhere our enthusiasts gather, and judging by gossip prospects are better and brighter than ever before as far as the Greymouth Club is concerned. ' With these conversations, we hear that so and so is so pleased with this season’s performances of his yacht that the next season’s ambition is to challenge for contest for a coveted Canterbury trophy for his particular class, while another intends to make another attempt to gain the supremacy of his type. Then a whisper is heard that a new yacht is hoped to be able enough to contest national honours. These things are all indications as to the keenness of our boys and signs of growing confidence, a really big asset to a man’s sailing ability if not carried too far. It can be truthfully stated that yachting is not a seasonable sport, but a whole yearly pastime. The progress of the sailing sport in New Zealand in the last few seasons is gratifying to those who "stuck to the guns” during those hard times which almost spelt ruination to many pastimes. We have only to look at our own small corner to see what progress is. Our’s is more remarkable than, many realise. For a club to be formed in the heart of the depression with none but everyday workers “at the helm,” and to-day when the “silver lining” has just appeared, to be in such a healthy position and being the proud possessor of a fine club house while older-established sports are still “scratching their heads” is nothing short of remarkable. In other centres this good work is also being carried on, and each season the popularity increases. Great progress is reported from Nelson, Marlborough, Taranaki, Northland, South Canterbury, Bay of Plenty and Southland, not to mention

the four centres, and now at least three classes have their annual interprovincial championships. Not very many years £go Hawke’s Bay contested for the Sanders Cup, but sailing waned in that quarter, and now rumour has it that soon we shall see yachting again in the boom around Napier.' There is but one obstacle in the way of promoting a really fully represented inter-provincial championship, and that is the lack of a class of boat suitable for all conditions and popular in every centre. The Cornwall Cup contests for Takapunas drew large representative fields for a few seasons, but unfortunately this class in the majority of ports is now on the wane, and looks as if they will stay that way. The Cornwall Cup was, of course, only contested between lads. The elder “yachties” sailed for the Sanders Cup in the too-tightly restricted Rona-Jellicoes, in which contest much interest has been lost. The most flourishing class to-day seems to be the Idle Alongs. Each year more provinces seem to be adopting this type of yacht and the Moffat Cup an.nual championship draws better fields with each new season.' But we notice that the owners of smaller class round bilgers do not get much chance to “see beyond their own noses,” and a championship for unrestricted dinghys would certainly be joyfully received.

This is a chance for our own club to gain a place in the eyes of outside provinces. In almost all centres some class or other of these small boats Is to be seen, and there is a golden opportunity awaiting for some club to stage a real feature by promoting an open championship for them. If New Zealanders would go so far as Tasmania and N.S.W. in search of titles, then they would come here if decent inducement was offered. This would not be an expensive venture —the title, in itself being a big share of the offerings if properly recognised. It would also benefit our boys and be a great draw if contested in heats, one on the Grey River and the remainder on Lake Brunner. This may sound a bit ambitious to some, but it is a really sound proposal, as we know we would have the support of Canterbury clubs and a visit of an Auckland “Silver Fern” may not be too much to expect if proper advertising were given. Now you dinghy fans, what do you think? Don’t you think it’s worth at least consideration?