THE YACHTING CONTESTS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23272, 15 February 1939, Page 12

THE YACHTING CONTESTS

New thrills for Auckland yachtsmen are promised during the next few days in the sailing contests on the Waitemata Harbour in which three visiting boats from Sydney will compete. The Australians have already been welcomed with that friendly enthusiasm which New Zealanders are always proud to extend to sportsmen from across the Tasman and the contests themselves, with a championship at stake, should do much to focus renewed public interest on a notably virile pastime. As for the prospects of the local boats against the amazingly efficient sailing machines from Sydney, it would be unfair to hazard an opinion in advance. The Auckland "18-footer" is a dual purpose craft, built for cruising as well as harbour racing, while the Sydney boats have been developed both in design and equipment for spectacular speed. Their appearance on the Waitemata should give local enthusiasts an opportunity to decide for themselves whether there is scope for the introduction in Auckland of a new type of boat to test the skill and spirit of those who cannot aspire to the lordly keeler. For a maritime community, anything which increases interest in seamanship as a hobby is of lasting value and because of that the Australian crews —mentors, probably, in a new phase of the sport of yachting—are doubly welcome.