TOO MANY FIXTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19452, 7 October 1926, Page 16

TOO MANY FIXTURES.

THE SEASON'S PROGRAMME. CURTAILMENT ADVISABLE. Now that the various yacht and launch clubs have held their annual meetings the fixtures for the 1926-27 seasou will shortly be jlrawn up. The arranging of the racing dates has always been a very difficult task for the Auckland Yacht and Mot'or-boat Association, owing to the large number of clubs operating in Auckland. This year the undertaking will be even greater than ever on account of tiie Tamaki Yacht Club joining the association. The racing season in Auckland usually commences about the second or third week in November, and with the exception of the Saturdays during the Christmas and New Year holidays it is carried on until toward the end of April and sometimes as late as May. When the boats are away from Auckland for their annual cruise a large number usually take part in regattas at Waiheke, Tauranga, Whangarei and Russell, which are held between the Christinas and New Year holidays. Lifst season the clubs made application to the association for dates and only on two or three occasions was it possible to allot a Saturday without one. club clashing with another's fixture. Not only were the usual two combined races held under the auspices of the association, but also one or two clubs held joint events in order to carry out the programmes. Even then there was a great deal of clashing which made matters rather difficult, not only for the clubs, but- also for the competitors. The whole difficulty, however, can bo overcome provided the various clubs curtail their programmes. This would not only prevent clashing of fixtures, but also would enable them to give better prizes. The clubs that cater for all classes find it a big order to provide cash and trophies for all the events, and it would bo to their interests to bear the foregoing ia mind when drawing up their racing fixtures. If the fixtures were limited to four or five to each club, including the opening and' closing events, the racing would bo keener and there would be room for all clubs to carry on. While dealing with the question of fixtures, the writer would like to see move of the "give and take" spirit shown when the dates are being allotted. In past years some of the delegates have gone to the meeting with their minds bent on securing each and every date on their proposed fixture-cards, without showing the least bit of consideration to their fellow delegates. No one objects to any delegate looking after tho interests of his club, but, bearing in mind that there aro not sufficient Saturdays to go round, the delogates should take up a broader view and give as well as take. YACHTING IN AMERICA. AN AUCKLANDER'S NOTES. EXTRAORDINARY DECISIONS. Writing from Bonnington Falls, British Columbia, Mr. Fred Brown, an exAuckland yachtsman, who is now engaged in hydro-electric work in Canada, states he has had several enjoyable cruises with the Royal Vancouver Yacht Club. Mr. Brown also forwarded to "Spindrift" an account of the international challenge race for class R, keel yachts, between Canada and tho United States, which was sailed at Watertown, N.Y. Two j days were devoted to the contest which, however, ended in a fiasco, but not before the Canadians demonstrated to everybody's satisfaction that they had a superior boat, skipper and crew. Trouble was experienced from the very start and some extraordinary decisions were given,, which finally resulted in the Canadian challenger, Acadia, withdrawing from the contest on tho third day. Before the start of the contest, the trophy for which was the famous George Cup, the Canadians enterpd a protest against Kathea 11., representing America, on the ground that she was not eligible under the Lake Yacht Racing Association rule governing moulded depth. The judge admitted that Kathea H. did not qualify for the race, but refused to disqualify her. Acadia's skipper declared he would not start and it looked as if there would be no contest. However, 15 minutes before starting time he agreed to take part in the race on the understanding that his protest would be sent to the North American Yacht Racing Association for adjudication. Tho race resulted in an easy win for 'Acadia. The two American boats, Kathea 11. and Momiji, experienced a foul. The former put in a protest, which was upheld. However, instead of disqualifying Momiji altogether the judges decided to place her third and allow her one point. Needless to say this extraordinary decision created all sorts of amusement and ridicule among the Canadians. Next day the skipper of Momiji told tho judges he would refuse to start in the second race if they persisted in accepting the unsupported word of the Kathea's skipper and crew regarding the foul. When this was made known to Kathea's skipper he withdrew tho pro test and Momiji was placed second, instead of third. The second race was won by Kathea, which defeated Acadia by 2m. 295. At the conclusion of the race Acadia's skipper maintained he was the winner, as he did not consider that Kathea was eligible and therefore she could not be regarded as a competitor. All Acadia had to do in the third race was to sail round the course and she would be tic winner of the cup, even if she were beaten by Momiji, which could only Secure a possible of four points against Acadia's five. The third race was not sailed and the contest ended in a very unsatisfactory manner. At the conclusion of the "series the Americans claimed that Kathea had not transgressed the regulations regarding moulded depth and that she had the requisite area of timber on the inside instead of the outside. THE SPORT IN ENGLAND. POPULAR SIX METRE CLASS. Yacht racing—especially class racing—in England has been slow in recovering from the effects of the Great War. Only two classes have actually received serious support —tho six and twelve metre. The six metre class has, in particular, found favour with racing yachtsmen. The reason for this popularity is threefold. The typo of yacht produced under tho International Rule is essentially a good ono. Tho cost of running a "six" is small, and the sail area is moderate in relation to tho size of the yacht. XhC international contests for the BritishAmerican Cup havo also had much to do with the popularity of this class in England and with tho development of tho present winning -type. Had it not beon for tho faat that tho cost of building and running a twelve metre yacht is so much, greater than is tho case with a "six," it is thought tho larger craft would have been equally popular.