YACHT RACING.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXV, Issue 19871, 15 February 1928, Page 16

YACHT RACING.

LAST SATURDAY'S CONTESTS. IDEAL CONDITIONS " PREVAIL. FAIRWAY MARKS QUESTIONED. BY SPXUDItIIfT. Ideal weather conditions prevailed on Saturday for the Victoria Cruising Club's annual Cup Day. This took the form of three general handicaps for yachts and a race for launches. A wholesail breeze from the west was blowing throughout the afternoon, which gave the yachts a good test on all points of sailing, while the launches were favoured . with smooth water. In both the races for the larger classes good entries were received and almost every boat that had entered faced the starter, but in the general handicap for classes T, X and Y, the entries were very disappointing. Eight boats were handicapped, but only three started and of these two completed the course. Tho prize for this particular race is the Boonstra Memorial Cup. Only a season or two ago it was not au uncommon sight to see from 20 to 30 boats taking part in this race, which is held annually. .Not only have the "fourteens" fallen off in the Victoria Club, but also in most of tho other clubs. In the race for the. Casey Cup Starlight had a day to her likiug and won rather easily. The 22-footer Venus sailed well in this race and actually led the 26footer Spray ou the beat up the harbour and across the finishing line. A number of the boats lost time through working the middle of the harbour on tho beat up instead of standing well in toward the southern shore. Louisa was well when she carried away her mast off Northcote and but for the mishap would have been among the placed boats. In the general handicaps for the Rae and Boonstra Cups it was officially reported that several of the boats had failed to observe the Pile beacon off the Shelly Beach baths as a fairway mark. In the Boonstra Memorial Cup the Sheila and Hapuka were disqualified after the race, but complaints against Surprise, Leverett and Manene will have to be investigated by the sailing committee be- , fore any action can be taken. Northcote Annual Regatta. Arrangements for tho Northcote and Birkenhead Regatta which will be held on February 25, are well in hand, lhe course for keel yachts, 26ft., 22ft.. and 20ft. mullet boats, will be from starting lino between the Rona buoy and flagship, thence round the Resolution buoy, thence round the White Light buoy in Rangitoto Channel, back round Resolution buoy, thence round markboat off Chelsea, finishing at starting line. Mr. A. Clare has offered to find a buoy to replace the dredge in Freeman's Bay in the course for the smaller classes, as the dredge is considered unsatisfactory as a rounding mark. The committee has decided to ask last year's handicappers to act again this year, as they have given every satisfaction in the past. Every effort is being made to encourage launch racing and a Dig entry is anticipated in the principal race for launches For this particular event, Mr. E. Skeates, Mayor of Birkenhead, has presented a silver trophy valued at £2O, and in addition to the prize £5 cash will be given. A race for B class outboard motor-boats has been added to the programme, the first prize for which is £2. _ Tho Devonport Ferry Company has kindly offered the use of a suitable steamer as flagship, which has been accepted. The following officials have been elected:—Sailing committee, Messrs. A. Clark, A. Clare, W. Goulding, J. T. Fearnley; starter and timekeeper, sailing events, Mr. W. A. Wilkinson; judges, Messrs. C. E. Campbell and G. E. Laycock : starters, side-show events, Messrs. A. Clark and W. Hurley; judges, Messrs G. Pearce and A. V, Tyer. Power-Boal; Association. The New Zealand Power-Boat Association will hold races for speedboats and outboard motor beats on Saturday. All the events will be decided over the association's new course at the Whau Creek, which is ideal for racing. The handsome cup presented by the Farmers' Trading Company for speed outboards will be raced for tho first time on Saturday. Thirty points will be given for the boat putting up the fastest time, 20 points for the second boat and 10 points for the,third boat. In addition to these another 30 points will bo given for consistency ana one point will be taken off for every second variation of time between the slowest and fastest lap. Under this system it is possible for tho winner to secure 60 points, while the boat putting up the second fastest time has a chance of winning the cup, providing she gains more points for consistency than the fastest outboard. A race for the gold cup presented by Messrs. John Burns and Company, for outboard motor boats will be decided on Saturday over a five-mile course. There will also bo a race for cruising launches and two speedboat events. In all probability the Kotuku, owned by Messrs. Hatrick Bros., of Wanganui, will be a competitor in the races for speedboats News and Notes. Tho Auckland-owned speedboats Hobo and Spot 111. will be among the competitors at the Rangariri regatta on March 3. Tho keel yacht Ariki left on a fortnight's cruise on Saturday. She will probably go as far north as Whangaroa. The Maybelle also started on a fortnight's cruise in the gulf on Saturday. The Devonport Yacht Club will hold its annual regatta on Saturday. Good progress is being made with the rebuilding of the Victoria Cruising Club's premises on its new site in Fanshaw# Street, Freeman's Bay. Originally 50ft. by 25ft., th<» clubhouse has £een lengh* ened by another 12ft. New iron hai» replaced the old roofing and the cluVexpects to take possession of its premises in about two weeks' time. At low water the clubhouse is left high and dry, but it is hoped in the near future to construct a skidway from the clubhouse into deep water, wliieh will then give access to the western end of the building at any state of the tide. Tho 32ft. launch Eros, owned by Mr. S. Carter, made her first appearance as a fast cruiser in the Victoria Cruising Club's races on Saturday. Powered with a 100 h.p. Hall-Scott engine, this boat made a good showing and accounted for the first prizo. The Sayonara Cup. After a lapse of more than 17 years the inter-State contest between New South Wales and Victoria for tho Sayonara Cup has again been decided, resulting in tho historic cup remaining in Now South Wales. Norn, rated at 8.03 metres and owned by Lieutenant A. Albert, defended tho cup on behalf of New South Wales, and the challenger was Acrospire 111., rated at 8.93 metres and owned by Mr. J. White, of Melbourne. Two races were hold and both were won by Norn. In the first race a medium north-east wind was blow- ! ing. Norn got the best of the start and led for some time, but was finally passed on the wind by tho challenger. Tho finishing times were? Acrospire ni., 5h 6m 335; Norn, 5h 10m 41s. With her rating allowance, Norn thus won by 3m 265. In tho second race the conditions were far from satisfactory, tho weather being rather light. Norn got away first, but Acrospire HI. rounded the first mark 2m 6s ahead of her rival. Both boats then made a long board on starboard tack and Norn picked up on Acrospiro 111. The times rounding the second mark wero: Norn, 5h 30m 275; Acrospire 111., 5h 56m 50s. Norn further improved her position and passod the judge's boat 23m 9s ahead of the challenger. With her rating allowance added, Norn retained the cup for New South Wales by 30m 435. The winner was formerly owned by Lord Forster, who sold her to Mr. Frank Albert, father of Lieutenant Albert. Norn was sailed by Mr. C. Trebeck and Acrospire HX by her owner.