YACHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17696, 3 February 1921, Page 7

YACHTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS.

hJL 1921 Anniversary Regatta, which was field on Saturday, was a great success, both irom a financial and a racing point of view. *t waa d «c'ded that the flagship snould be done away with and Calliope Dock and site used instead, the committee came in for a fair amount of criticism, but ttieir decision was undoubtedly s, move in trie right direction. Fully 4000 people MsiUsd the dock, and at least anotlier 2000 would have made the trip across the harbour had there been boats to carry them. Uwing to the Takapuna races a ferry boat could not be secured, the little steamer Jiawau being used as tender to the dock. i j Tfu V now « ,ver . proved far too small, and although Bhe maintained a regular service she could not cope with the demand made upon her. Next year steps should be taken to secure a ferry steamer a long way ahead of regatta day, as there is no question that the dock site is most suitable as headquarters for the regatta. A matter, however, that should not be overlooked next year is the mooring of the mark boat which is used for the races to Btart and famah from. On Saturday the schooner Huia. the mark boat on this occasion, was anchored well above the dock, and very little, opportunity was given those on shore of witnessing the actual starts and finishes of the various events. Had the schooner been anchored opposite the dock no difficulty would have been experienced in this direction. The weather conditions were splendid, a good sailing breeze from the south-west and \ eT i- 0n from tt" e weet , prevailing throughout the day. The racing, generally speaking, was keen and interesting, especially in the bigger classes. In the smaller classes, however, a large number of boats did not complete the course. This was particularly noticeable in the races for open and halfdecked boats. For instance, in the race for 18ft. boats and under, 20 competitors ; aced , the starter, but only six finished, iwenty-two open sailing dinghies were sent away in the event for 14ft. boats and under and only six completed the course. Even m the popular 14ft. one-design class five boats out of 14 competitors failed to finish, lhe reason given; in the majority of cases for the boats giving up was that the course, which was a new one. was too long, especially as the boats had to finish with the tide and wind against them. The race for the 14ft. one-design class, which was won by Desert Gold, was considerably interfered with by yachts and launches following it. A well-known 22- I footer, which had retired from her own class, was " hove-to " nfar the Resolution ■ mar ! w . nicJl prevented the Ola 111. mak.ng the buoy, and spoiled what would have been a good race between this boat and Desert Gold. The Iron Duke, which was sailed by Lord Jellicoe, was seriously interfered with by launches, and this was keenly resented by the lion Duke's "skipper" Lord Jellicoe is a very keen yachtsman, and naturally looks to fellow-sportsmen to ob8er T ve the etiquette of the pastime. . lhe action of several boat owners in passing between the flagship and the mark boat after they had decided not to comple\e the course, led to serious confusion in the regatta results on Saturday. In the 22ft. mullet-boat class the Mane, which had re- °? v . clal i y . ,P>ced first through tiZSTS T rer * °? e £ nl ah"}g line about the time the boats in her class was finishing, lhe Rahm was also placed third through a misunderstanding The fault is not that of the judge, but of the "skippers" of the boats themselves. When it lias been d£ voided .to withdraw from a race in which a hoa is engaged the correct rote is for the boat to pass on the outside of the mark thi i^\ pot twee Jl- the « ar k boat and the flagship. Had this rule been rarr£3 out on Saturday there would not any wrong platings of the boats. Several co o m^titor S keeP W1 °E" o? d tte The; Royal New Zealand Yacht Sauadmn will hold a measurement race for fi?s£cW 2£& 3? Saturday. a general handicap for the 14ft one-design class. lor a. general handicap, for which tho oionship pennant flags wi 11 be aw*£S" Two class races, one for under *mS7w e f and one for over eight wt S?A knots for the Lunn Cup, will £id * "thi £l» '-he regatta on Saturday w!ll K? k ,r Part In elude the races WCa 1 -these m--22ft. boats a „h ty ?Jh-class yachts, open boats. ' ° d tie 14ft " s< J uar e bilge