YACHT RACING

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIX, Issue 21359, 7 December 1932, Page 18

YACHT RACING

TAMAKI CLUB'S RACES

POPULARITY OF NEW COURSES

INTEREST IN JELLICOE CLASS 15 V Sl'IN DRIFT Favoured with a good sailing breeze and large entries for ils races for small classes the Tamaki Yacht Club had every reason to feel proud of its fixture last- Saturday afternoon. With few exceptions all the boats that had entered faced (lie starter and very few failed to finish.-New courses were used for classes ]M to Y and proved very popular with the competitors. The ■yachts started off Kobimarama wharf and then made for a mark off St. IJclibrs. 'They then proceeded to the white light buoy in Eangitoto Channel and from there sailed round the Bastion beacon, finishing at the wharf. The smaller classes, Z and W, used Bean Bock lighthouse for their second turning mark, instead of the white light. In previous years all the larger boats sailed two rounds of the smaller course. Not only is the new course a little shorter,, but it also gives the boats more operu water, and, being once-round only, there can be no question of doubt as to whether the boats have finished once they have crossed the finishing line. Tho racing, generally speaking, was very interesting and the fact that tho new Jellicoc boat y\ileen was making her first appearance in a- Sanders Cup trial ra.ee induced a largo number of spectators to gather on tho wharf. The course for this particular race was specially arranged so that it kept tho Sanders Cup boats clear of the other competitors and while the three Jellicoe boats were not in full view of tho public all tho time, those who waited for the finish witnessed a great struggle between Aileeu and Idler. Win for New Boat I

The issue- was in doubt on the run until the finishing line and it was not until the Bastion beacon was passed that Aileen had a slight advantage over Idler. Even then Idler looked likely to overhaul the new boat, which, however, managed to keep her load, crossing the line five seconds ahead of her rival. The ex-chain-pion Dosert Gold was never prominent.

Rangi put in an appearanco after the boats had started, but did not take part officially in the race. Aileen, Idler, Rangi, Desert Gold and possibly Joan will be seen racing in class X on Saturday.

The start of tho race for class V was a very pretty one and so keen were the competitors that 13 out of the 14 starters had their spinnakers set as tlioy crossed the line for the run to the first mark. On arrival at the buoy there was a little crowding, with the result that at least three boats were involved in a, collision, but nothing serious happened. Avro was very smart at this mark and getting clear of the fleet made a long board down the channel for the white light buoy, which she rounded ahead of the fleet and had the satisfaction of being the first boat to finish. The first prize on time allowance was won by Rita, which sailed a good race on tho day and deserved her win. The popular Wakatere boats made a good showing, 11 taking part in the race for their class. There was very little between them on the run to the mark at St. Heliors, but when sheets were flattened Waiata drew away from the rest of the fleet and once in the lead maintained her position until the finish. Good Handicapping

Some excellent handicapping was revealed in the Manukau Yacht and Motorboat Club's race for yachts on Saturday afternoon. Six boats started on the Mark Foy system and although there was a dif ference of 37m between the scratch and limit boats in the handicaps, only lm 39s separated the first from the last boat at. the finish. The winner, Almira, with a handicap of 15m, defeated Wild Wave, 12m, for first prize by 335. Patricia, 37m, and SybiJa, scr, actually finished a dead he^it.

Mr. R. Belcher, of Onehunga, formerly owner of the 18-footer Drone, has purchased the 14ft. T das* boat Svbila.

The 30ft. launch Miharo, owned by Mr. G. I'artletf. lias been purchased by Mr. W. Macdonald, of Epsom. The. Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron will open it.s season on Saturday afternoon, when races will be hold■ for keel yachts, M class boats and launches. The keel yachts will take part in a cruising race, which will be started on the Mark Foy system, file limit , boat being sent away at, 2 p.m. The race for class M will start at 2.45 p.m. The Victoria Cruising Club will hold its first series of harbour races on Saturday afternoon. Classes J I , hj, N and keel yachts will compete for tli© Casey Cup; classes V, S and 51 for the Rao Cup and all 14ft. classes for the. Boonstra Memorial Uu[). Entries for all classes close to-day.