PROSPECTS VERY BRIGHT

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20364, 19 September 1929, Page 4

PROSPECTS VERY BRIGHT

MANY NEW BOATS BUILDING

GROWTH OF THE OUTBOARD

BT SPINDRIFT.

With the approach of the yachting season in Auckland one is impressed with tho fact that although last season was a rery successful one, there is every indicitflion of tho 1929-30 season being a record one, especially from a racing point of view. It has often been doclared by some of tho older hands that yachting in Auckland is going back. This view, however, is rot held by tho writer. Admittedly there is not tho number of tho larger type of sailing craft built nowadays compared with some 24 years ago, but to compensate for this tliero aro now more boats and yachtsmen engaged in the sport than in former years.

Most of the smaller boat owners havo made a start on their craft, but very little work has so far been carried out on the larger keel yachts. A number of owners make it a rule to get afloat by Labour Day, October 28, but tho majority of tho boats will not tako tho water until November. With a very few exceptions all tho yachts and launches which wero in commission last season will again bo seen afloat and in addition a large number of new boats of various designs and sizes will make* their appearanco. These include an 18ft. M class boat, a Star class boat, a 20ft. and also a 16-footer, and numerous launches hnd outboard motorboats. So far as the actual racing is concerned there is every prospect of keen competition in all classes of yachts and outboard motor-boats.

Sanders Memorial Cup.

A feature of tho coming season will undoubtedly bo the annual contest for the Sanders Memorial Cup. Having won tho cup last season the Auckland Yacht and Motor-Boat Association has the right to hold this year's contost on the Waitemata and while nothing has been actually decided in connection with this matter, it is almost a foregone conclusion that the raco will tako placo in Auckland. Following the practice of former Sanders Cup contests in Auckland it has been suggested

that the race should bo held early in , February, which would give the visiting yachtsmen an opportunity of taking part in tho Auckland Anniversary Ilegatta on January 29 should they so desire. Of lato years very little interest has been taken in tho races for tho Jellicoo boats, but now that the Sanders Cup has been brought biick to Auckland, the class may tako a fresh lease of lifo. It certainly can do with it and it is to bo hoped that the trials will be carried out earlior than they were last year and more time devoted to them.

The Keel Yachts.

All the first-class keel yachts will again be seen flying their racing pennants. As usual little or no work has so far been carried out on the various boats, but, a start will bo made at an early date. The announcement made in these

columns recently that Mr. C. Wild intends to build a now class A keel yacht lias been received with great satisfaction and while the boat will not be ready this season she will be well in hand before the season ends. Her progress will be watched with great interest and Mr. Wild is to be congratulated upon his enterprise. The big schooner Vision, formerly owned by Mr. J. Eeid, is undergoing a very extensive overhaul and will take the water this season and will make some extendod cruises.

The suggestion made by the committee of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron that this club should hold a week or ten days' racing at Kawau has been very favourably commented upon by members, and while the proposal is not likely to be given effect this season there is a possibility of it being carried out next year. The idea is that a week in February should 'be chosen, as tho weather is more favourable for racing, generally speaking, at that time of the year. A splendid course could be laid off between Kawau and tho mainland and two races could be held daily—one in the morning and the other in tho afternoon. In the evening socials could bo held ashore. Discussing tho proposal with the writer, an owner said some of the members of the club were so keen over the idea that they would take a tent- with them for the purposo of camping ashore, so that their boats could be raced without cruising gear. Others would race with all their usual outfit. Most of the B class yachts will bo put into commission, including the old-timer Kestrel, which is being thoroughly overhauled. Class C will be strengthened by the inclusion of Pandora, while both A.lexa and Delville are expected to do more racing this season than last. In each instance these boats have new owners, who are keen racing men. Apart from taking part in the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, tho Speedwell is not expected to race, but her owners may change their minds when the season opens. There is also a possibility of Janet throwing in her lot with one of the clubs.

Maljoe, Maybelle, Dolphin, Aorewa, Owhanga, Dolphin, Naiad, Eunice and one or two others will represent E class. Eunice has not raced previously, but now that she is owned by Mr. W. Rodgors she will nov.* and again fly her racing flag. Centreboard Boats. For sevoral seasons past the 26ft. mullet boat class (H) has gradually diminished in strength, but this year tho class has made a gain of one boat—the ex-champion Logan boat Omatere. This craft has been engaged in the fishing industry at the Thames for tho past nine years and was recently purchased by Mr. R. Jones, of Stanley Bay. She is being thoroughly overhauled and will be fitted with a new mast. The crew of Spray, winner of numerous prizes last year, have been very busy on her lately and havo almost got her ready for tho water. She ■will be equipped with a new mainsail this season.

As usual, the popular L class, 22-footcrs, will again come to tlie foro in largo numbers. Huia has been fitted with a new mast ifnd Doreen has l)enn overhauled by Mr. J. Slattery. Valeria, Rakoa, Venus, Marie, Varuna 11., Mowai, Lovelight and Otira will fight their battles over again and possibly Ngaru 11. may bo induced to race occasionally. Hilda and Rahiri have been sold to Whangarei yachtsmen, while I'orest Gold, which is now an auxiliary, will be used for cruising only. Hetty ha? returned from the Manukau and will race in several of the club's this year.

Class N, 20-footers, will have at least three additional boats this season Waiapu has returned from the Manuka;i; Kgaio, formerly owned by the Rev. JasTjev Calder has changed hands, and will liave her engine removed, whito a new 20-footer is under construction at Point Chevalier. These boats, together with "Winifred, Wairere, Wayward, Wyoming, Matariki and several others, should creato more interest in the class.

The races for class M (10ft. patikis) always produce close contests, and this season will see an addition to the fleet—a new boat now being built for Mr. H. Chamberlain, of Ponui Island, bv Mr. A. to gan. The strength of this class is now .•ignt, but Maia is not expected to be put

into commission, wliilo Mischief is not able to log it with her rivals and very rarely races. Tlio other fivo boats mo very evenly matched, and the advent of the new boat, is being awaited with «.onsiderablo interest in yachting circles, especially among tho followers of tho class. Mr. Scott Wilson, owner of Mawhiti, has returned from an extended tour abroad, and will again take chargo of his boat Fcur boats aro expected to coinpcto in tho races for tho international star class. Since the inception of tho class in Auckland it has been represented by three boats, but this year will soo a new boat hailing from Devonport. Although the rogister shows 33 boats 111 class V, 18ft. square bilge, less than half of that number take up racing. Surprise, Mystic. Wild Wave, Scud, Loverette, Sun, Ngaire, Desdemona, Rita, Sen Crest, Magic Sunbeam, and one or two others will again be put into commission. Sea Crest is now owned by Mr. A. Leyland, formerly owner of Romp, find sho will race in several of tho local clubs. Solace has finished her days as a sailer, having been converted into a launch by Mr. J. 11. Slattery. Drone, which was so successful last season, has been sold to Mi A. Belcher, of Onehunga, and will in future raco on tho Manukau. A new 18-footer is being built at Mt. Eden and also one at Northcote. Waitoa, a new 16ft. S class boat, will vwike her fi.st appearance this season, while Mistral, Namu, Aratu, Sea Sleigh, Waitui, Rangitira, Phyllis, Atangaita and a few others' will race again.

In tho early part of last season tho 14ft. Y class made a fairly good showing, quite a number of boats taking part in the various club events. Toward tho finish, however, difficulty was experienced in securing sufficient boats to make up a raco. There are 42 boats all told on tho official register, and it is difficult to understand why interest in this once popular class has fallen off. So far as the coming season is concerned, about eight or nino boats mav ho expected to take part in various clubs. Another class that has fallen off considerably is tho 14ft. T. despite tho fact that it has absorbed the 14ft. Jellicoe boats. Among the craft expected to bo seen racing in class T are Ramona, Shalimar, Kismet, Manu, Marie, Rangi, Ola TTT.. Meteor. Eleanor. Avalon. Joan and Hapuka. Of tho Jellicoe boats. Val, Rona, Queen March and Avalon aro still in Auckland, but with tho exception of Avalon _it is not known whether these boats will be put into commission. In view of tho fact that the Sanders Cup contest will more than likely bo held in Auckland this season, it is hoped that the owners of tho boats in question will bo persuaded to put them in commission, and not only raco them in the Sanders Cup trials, but also in club events.

Tho Takapuna 12ft. Gin. one-design class is as popular as ever with boys under 21 and not only has the class taken on at Takapuna, but also on the Manukau, at Wellington, Lyttelton and Dunedin. The contest for the Cornwell Cup is for boats of the Takapuna class and was last year won by tho Takapuna Club at Lyttelton. It has not yet been decided whero this year's contest will tako placo. A purely boys' class is tho Tauranga 7ft. and with the object of establishing tho class in Auckland and teaching boys the art of small boat sailing the Akarana Yacht Club has decided to placo a new boat, the Wcnona, at the disposal of lads wishing to beeomo yatchsmen. This boat was built and presented to tho club by Mr. G. Miller, of Devonport, and during the coming season it will be brought over to the clubhouse in Mechanics' Bay. There are several other seven-footers in Auckland and it' is hoped to arrange races for tho class. Last year the Devonport Yacht Club, the Takapuna Boating Club and tho Northcote and Birkenhead Regatta each put on a race for the Tauranga boats and much interest was taken in them.