YACHTING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LVIII, Issue 17935, 1 December 1921, Page 5

YACHTING.

NOTES AND COMMENTS, The weather laat Saturday was by no meatiß favourable for yachting, a hard westerly wind, accompanied by rain squalls, prevailing throughout the afternoon. Despite those conditions, however, the Ponsonby Cruising Club held a general handicap to Arkle'a Bay for yachts and launches, and harbour races for open boats. As usual, most interest was taken in the I race for the 14ft. one-design class. Ttya however, was marred by the capsizing of the Ola 111., which brings the question of a resail up for discsssion owing to one of the boats going to the assistance of the Ola 111. Fourteen boats faced the starter, and beJore they had gone very far the Desert Gold assumed the lead, and being well bandied by J. Patrick, she once more proved too good for her rivals- The harder it blew the better tho Desert Gold "liked it," and once in the lead the isisue was never in doubt so fa r as the first boat to finish was concerned. The pertormance of the Desert Gold was very favourably commenlod upon by all who witnessed the race. The greatest surprise of the day was tho doiags ol the Resolute, sailed by J. McWhirter. Dp till Saturday this boat had I been looked upon as being very slow, and no one gavo her a chance. The Resolute, I however, occupied a prominent position I throughout, eventually finishing second to Desert Gold. When the Ola 111. capsized, which was caused through her spinnaker getting out of hand, the Resolute was following close on the former's stern, and earlier in the race was actually leading Ola 111. The new boat Joan, which put up such a fine showing on the opening day, was rammed by another competitor while rounding the mark boat off the tide deflector on the completion of the first round. This cost her some loss of time, but her doings before this were not as good as in her first race. The Viper, owned by Mr. C. Arthur, which was launched only a few minutes before the start of her race, had the misfortune to break her rudder on the beat up the harbour, and had to retire. When the mishap occurred she was sailing fairly well, but was handicapped through all her gear and sails not having previously been triea out. A meeting of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron and representatives from the various yacht clubs will be held this evening for the purpose of making arrangements for the ocean race to Tauranga/next month. Arkle's Bay proved very popular last week-end, a large number of yachts and launches visiting this well-known pleasure resort Among the yachts were Ilex, Thelma, Aorere. Eulalie, Peri. Mahaki. Ngalira. Lady Sterling, Queenie, Waitere 11., Starlight, Wairiki, Omatere, Baybelle, Marie, Valeria, Forest Gold, Colonist, Lovelight, Venus, Mowai. Ngaro. Rouen,, Gloaming, and Ngawa. The launches included Loew Victor, Surf, Princess Pat, Kathryn R., Alwyn, Countess, Bila, and Imanota. On Saturday evening a dance was held ashore and was largely attended by the crews of the various DOats. Early on Sunday morning a number of the launches left for the fishing grounds, but no large hauls were reported. One of the launches that remained at the bay got a nice haul of flounders before breakfast. There was little or no wind in the early part of the coming, but about 12.30 p,m, a nice breeze from the west was picked up. The yachts were looking forward to a - fair wind home, but at 3 p.m. the breeze shifted into the south, which made it a beat to North Head instead. When the question of raising funds for the Anniversary Regatta came up for discussion this week it was suggested that yachtsmen, as well as the general public, should be asked to subscribe to the regatta funds. It was pointed out that year after . year the same bueines6e firms wore asked for a donation, and while there was usually a ready response, it was thought th» yachtsmen themselves should help in the matter. One of the speakers stated that a good many boat owners had the idea that all that was required of them was to enter and race their boats, and the committoo could do the rest. The meeting decided to write to the various yacht and launch clubs, asking for financial assistance rrom the members. „, , ,„ ~. The North Shore Yacht Club will hold a cruising race to Awaroa Bay, Waiheke, on Saturday, for yachts and launches, and also harbour races for open boats. A concert and dance will be held at Awaroa Bay on Saturday evening. The capsizing of the opea boats Ola ill. and Sea Shell during the Ponsonby Cruising Club's harbour races on Saturday demonstrates the necessity for a launch to follow races for open boats round the course to render aid in case of a capsize- The Ola--111, which was racing m the 14ft. onedesign class, turned over ofi Northcote Point, and as no launch had been provided, her crew were not picked up until the launch Maud T.. which had witnessed the capsiso from the southern eide of the harbour, went to their assistance. Meanwhile, the Rona and Idler, which were competing in the same race as the Ola 111. stood by her to, render assistance ' if required. The Bea Shell, a now square bilge •'flattie," -capsized, off St. Mary a Bay her crew being picKedup by the Hit. open boat Silver Link. In the case of the Sea Shell the officials m charge of the racing did not oven know the boat had capsized until after the race. A boat was observed drifting bottom upwards down the harbour and on making inquiries it was learned that it was the Sea Shell. Had a launch been provided by the club to follow the races, which were sailed over the same course, there would have been -no necessity for the Silver Link and the other boats to etand by the boats that capsized. This would have done away with the question of holding a reßail which nearly always crops up when a capsize happens. Of course, there may be occasions when it, i, absolutely essential for a competitor to go to the assistance of another boat even if a launoh is following. Apart from the racing itself there is always & danger .attached to a cansize and it is the duty of the clubs to lessen this- as much as possible. At the end of last seajnn fife Vetera Cniismg Club and tie North Shore Yacht Club decided to provide a launch for this purpose and all open boat races held by these clubs will have a launch following The Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association has appointed Messrs. A. E. Clifford. J. Boonstra, and E. J. Kelly to act as a tpecial committee to Belect the challenger to represent Auckland- in the .racei for the intemrovincial championship in the I4it one-design ciase. which is to be decided ot Dunedin in February. It is proposed to hold a series of test rare«. and m the event of five races bein* held tVee will be ?a led over a windward and tewd course and two over a trianrrular course.' 6bpuld only three test races take place, one ench will be held over a windward and leeward # course and the remaining one over a triangular course. An eTrW start will be made with the trial races ns the name of the ch«lleiv?or jurt be forwarded to the Otago Yacht and Motor-boat Aseowt'on 21 days, pnor to the race for the chamnionship. which carries with it tho Sanders Memorial Cup.