AUCKLAND BOATS

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXXVI, Issue 23276, 20 February 1939, Page 11

AUCKLAND BOATS

DESIGNERS SATISFIED BEST FOR THE CONDITIONS DUAL PURPOSE EMPHASISED Although the world championship decided on the Waitemata is expected to give a decided -impetus to the 18ft. type of yacht, few, if any, boats in Auckland are likely to adopt the unique design of the Sydney craft. This is the opinion of several boatbuilders and designers who have been keenly interested in the performances of the visiting boats under New Zealand conditions. The dual purpose boat that is the Jfew Zealand 18-footer is not likely to be' displaced by a craft that is purely a racing machine, authorities stated. The half-decked Auckland yachts have been evolved for both cruising and racing, and yachtsmen are not likely to desert sturdiness, ease of handling and all-weather sailing for craft in which trips beyond the harbour limits might be uncomfortable and hazardous in uncertain weather.

"The Australian craft are not boats ns we know them, and they appear definitely unsuited to our demands and our conditions," one builder said on Saturday. "Howevers they might possibly take on if there was a purely racing* class like the Jellicoe boats, which have been in use for many years." , The question of cost was raised by another designer. He pointed out that the 18-footers were essentially owned and manned by boys and, when fully rigged, they could probably be constructed for about £l5O. It had been stated that over £3OO was required to build and equip a yacht of the Sydney design, and this financial hurdle would bo too great for the average enthusiast. "The 18ft. class will undoubtedly receive groat benefit from the championship scries, and there will probablv he orders placed for the building of (several new boats," another authority stated. "But of these, I think very few depart from our local design, which has proved itself as the most suitable for Auckland requirements. "The visiting yachts do not appear to bo the most satisfactory type for our conditions and, apart altogether from serving the dual purpose of cruising ftud racing, the local boats are easier to manoeuvre in tricky weather.'' Hie performances of the type of boat peculiar to Auckland liave also impressed members of the Australian contingent. Among those who have been keenly interested in the design of the " aitemata's IS-footers is the wellknown Australian open boat skipper, <y W ebb. who has made a request for the plans and specifications of the Jeanette. He made a thorough inspec■Miu of the yacht yesterday...