ON THE HARBOUR

New Zealand Times, Volume L, Issue 11709, 22 December 1923, Page 6 (Supplement)

ON THE HARBOUR

ROWING, YACHTING, MOTOR LAUNCHES

THE COMING RECATTA: CLUB JG'T HSS

Many Petone folks were somewhat disappointed that the recently-con-tested Sanders Chip trial did not eventuate there, as was at first promised. The reason, it is understood, for the abandonment of the trials was the inability to get a launch to tow the boats out. As a result it is probable that the idea of holding a trial at Petone will be given up altogether. .LEFT AT THE POST. Although the Port Nicholson’s last race for centre-boarders of 18£t and under was purely a club handicap, many spectators had the idea, 'seeing that the three Sanders Cup candidates were competing, that the opportunity would be taken to make some sort of a trial of it for them. The crew of the Peggy were seemingly of this opinion, too, and although the race was scheduled to start at a specified time, they were not on their mark then, and were engaged, as a matter of fact, in getting a new boom. “THOUGHT THEY WOULD WAIT." As one of them naively remarked afterwards, he thought the starter would wait for them, but this the starter did not do, and the field was dispatched promptly. The result was that- the Peggy got away some ten minutes late, and although under the able handling of Mr E. Bailey, she sailed a very fine race, and pulled a lot off this unnatural handicap, she was not able to get up in time. MARANGI’S EASY WIN. The first-class yacht race conducted by the Royal . Port Nicholson Yacht Club on the same day afforded a good demonstration of the splendid sailing qualities of the Marangi in a light breeze. She simply ran away from her rivals, and was over the line, and back in the boat harbour, while the others were still floundering away in the offing. Incidentally, some of those others did not reproduce anything like their previous form, but, of course, in a wind such as was blowing on Saturday, the vagaries of different yachts are sometimes bewildering. The race was terribly strung out, and by the time the last boat crawled over the line the judge himself must have been out of all patience with it. OPENING RACE AT PETONE. There was a strong wind on Saturday last for the first race of the season conducted by the Petone Boating Club, and conditions weTe far from pleasant. The race was for centre-boarders, 18 feet and under, and provided iGrex with an opportunity for a runaway win. The course was from the wharf to Lowry Bay, thence iback through the gap in the Island. Grex, an 18-footer, was able to keep a full spread of sails over the whole course, while the 11-footers had to reef down in the wind, with the result that Grex romped homo with about twenty minutes to spare, notwithstanding the fact that she was giving ten minutes away. She will probably pay for her victory when the next handicaps come out. Spook was second.

EVANS BAf NOTES

With the exception of the Wanderer, the 'boats belonging to the Evans Bay Yacht and Motor-boat Club are now all in the water, where they have been performing more or lese successfully for the last few weeks. Wanderer is at present undergoing overhaul, and it is anticipated that she will be afloat at an early date. Psyche has completed her annual overhaul, and went into the water a fortnight ago. Mr Jackson (intends rigging her as a cutter, and has added about 12 cwt of lead to her keel. \v ith a 30ft boom, and additional length to her bowsprit, tho Psyche should present a pretty sight under her now ng.__ It is a pity her deckhouse is so prornment, as this detracts somewhat from her otherwise graceful appearance. Wairere I. has been undergoing repairs at Ballina Bay, but is most likely afloat by now. She was unfortunate in getting caught in a northerly recently, and suffered some slight damage. Mr Holmes has spent a great deal of time on her, and she should now he her old •self again. POPULARISING THE SPORT. The club, this season, in order to popularise yachting, is holding tho keel yacht races in Evans Bay. It is hoped, by having the entire course within sight of the shore, that interest will be taken in the sport by the public. One race has been held over, this course, and has evidently been appreciated by a number of people. Comments from several quarters go to show that some enthusiasts ’ully appreciate the yachtsmen’s desire to make their pastime interesting to outsiders, and it is hoped that before long the yacht races in Evans Bav will he watched by more than a handful. From tho crews’ point of view, the course is highlv interesting and exciting, and calls for plenty of skill and judgment. Over such a course the racing spirit is most keenly aroused, and skilful handling will tell more than on a straight one. LIMBLESS SOLDIERS’ PICNIC. The picnic for limbless soldiers has been included as usual in the club’s programme. It will take place in February, and all limbless soldiers are asked to make a point of being present. The exact data has yet to be decided upon. On this dav the club members place their boats at the disposal of soldiers, and give them a day’s outing. This picnic has l»en highly fucccssful in the past, and the fact has warranted the continuation of the function, A QUIET WEEK-END. Last week-end was fairly quiet at Evans Bay, and not many boats left the moorings. The weather conditions on both Saturday and Sunday were far from pleasant. No race for keel yachts had been arranged, and the motor-boat race was the only one held, as tho wind was considered too strong for the 14-fl and under class. Saturday afternoon, was spent by most of the crews in doing odd jobs about the boats and generally preparing for the annual cruise. It is not anticipated that any of the boats will take advantage of the Christmas holidays for a cruise across the Straits, but Nancy Stair will most likely leave early in January, to be followed later by Wairiri I. and Romp. Wairiri came off the hard last Sunday, after receiving repairs necessitated by her aocident. The Evans Bay Club dances have been discontinued for the present, but will be resumed again about January 12th. These weekly dances have proved very popular, and the members will look eagerly forward to their starting again. Psyche will not leave quite so early ns usual for her annual oruise, as her owner. Mr Jackson, has been laid up for some time. He is progressing satisfactorily, however, and will make the cruiaing probably some time in January.

THE MOTOR BOATS

SMALL ENTRIES FOR RACE. The entries for the recent power boat race, held by the Port Nicholson Motor Boat Club, were very small, only four boats taking part. While it is true that many members claimed as an excuse that they were getting their craft ready for their annual trip to the Sounds, there still seems to have been a strange lack of interest in the event when only such a small number of competitors took part. It is the desire of the participators in every sport to make it an object of interest to the public, but this is an exceedingly difficult thing to do unless thev show interest in it themselves. AN UNFORTUNATE ACCIDENT. The Puriri lost all chance of the race on Saturday by one of those unfortunate accidents which happen now and then in the course of such contests. As she was approaching one of the buoys, which marked the limit of the course in that direction, the Harbour Board’s pilot launch Uta, which was going out to bring in an overseas boat, cut across in front of her. The Puriri had to plow down, and make a detour to get round the buoy, and lost so much distanoe that her crew gave up hope of being in at the finish, and simply ran her into the beat harbour. The pilgjb boat, on official business bent has, of course, the right of way from other craft, but whether, in this case she might have given way somewhat, or the Puriri, by noting and making allowance for her presence in time, might have avoided interference, it would probably take a round-table conference to decide. CHEAPER PETROIt. ' If this is war, may it never be peace,” is the feeling which motor-boat owners generally have towards the present "petrol war” raging in the United States, and which has resulted in very substantial reductions in the price of benzine. In America itself, prices have fallen to what seems to us a ridiculous level, 8 cent 9 a gallon, and over here the effect of this fierce burst of competition is being slowly reflected. Latest quotations for benzine make it 16s a case, or 2s a gallon, still ridiculously out of proportion to the American Dries, but nevertheless a step in the right direction, and a verv big improvement on prices of a year or two ago. The trade war, rnfortunately, is not likely to last long; competition has given way to co-opera-tion among the big powers in the modern business world, but too often it is cooperation for the purpose of exploitation. BOATS FOR THE SOUNDS. TOt h the near approach of the Christmas holidays, boat owners are making preparations for their annual excursion to the Sounds,, the Mecca of launch and yachtsmen, which every year attracts an increasingly large number of 'holidaymakers. Engines, in many cases, are oeing overhaul© i, and the boats got m <rder for theiy sojourn across the Straits. Ihe Dons left for the Sounds last week, but most of the others will start out during to* , present week-end. From the boat harbour, Huia, White Rose, Marie, Doris, Maxie, Resolution, Kereru, Kohoke. and Scout will be going over, the latter, however, not until February. THE NEXT EACES. There will bo no N more power boat u htil after the Christmas holidays, the hrst events taking place on Regatta Day, January 22nd. On the Sunday follo"ing, one of the most delightful events at thj Clubs year takes place, the club picnic. Those functions have always been highly successful in the past, and are looked forward to keenly by memoers and other* friends. Mr S. Silver’s 'boat, the "Josephine,” has just received a very extensive overhaul, and now looks spio and span for the season. A new 35-h.p. "Atlantic” engine has Ibcon installed, and hag (riven ffreat satisfaction in its trials. ROWING PETONE CLUB’S SENIOR EACES. There was -beautiful weather and smooth water when the _ Petone Rowing Club bowed oil its senior fours races, and the spectators were afforded some thrills in the way of hard fought races and close brushes. Four crews nominated, and the first heat was between O. H. Haddtwik (str) C. H. Burridge (3), H. K. Adamson (2), K M. Allen (bow), and A. Hickson (str.), C. McLauchlan (3), E G Duncan (2) and F Cropp (bow). After a fairly eve® start Haddock’s crew gained a slight advantage and held it until about a quarter of tho distance had been covered. _ Then Hickson’s crew, who were rowing a very even, crisp stroke came up, ani drew away to win by three lengths: A GRUELLING RACE. Tho second heat, which produced one of the best races seen in Petone for some time, was between A. White (str.), K. Rodger (3), A. Maude (2) and! W. Drummond (bow), and J. Weatherly (str.), A H. Warden (3) W Sharon (2) and J. Bucknall (bow). Getting away fairly evenly, tihe crews were never separated by more than half a length over the whole mile. Despite the efforts of tho respective strokes, neither could gain any appreciable advantage ovor the other, and it was only the judge who was able to decide on tho winnor at tho last, tho decision going to WQiite by a foot. 11l the final Hiokson’s crew beat White’s nirt. •*} z 1 * otlr lengths, end> apparently Whites Grew uras suffering badly from the effects of tho gruelling race they had had in their heat. Nevertheless, Hickeon a crew thoroughly deserved their win, as tiheir combination was very creditably to a club rue© crew.

RECATTA CREWS

IN STEADY TRAINING. Although the weather during the past week has left a good deal to -be desired, the training of the regatta crews has proceeded steadily at Petone, and all the crews have shown considerable improvement. The senior fours have settled down, and appear to be going rather well. It is noticeable, however, that the bow is not swinging quite with the rest of the crew, but otherwise their work is quite satisfactory. The junior fours have been training eTery morning for the past three weeks, and have .undoubtedly improved under th* coaching of Mr White. The maiden fours, although very slow in picking up the combination at first, are now going fairly well. No. 3 could improve a bit with his swing, and should not drop hi sbody quite so much at the end of the stroke. He is, however, a new man this year, and is going, perhaps, as well as could be expected. The crew, as a whole, must remember, oa the recovery, to keep their oars off the water, as it is not much use putting on the weight with, the stroke and then taking the pace away from the boat by hitting the water repeatedly on the recovery. The yontlis and lightweight maiden crews rowed a trial race over the mile course the other evening. The trial was quite a success from every point of view.

and although the youths’ crew were able to win by some lengths, the lightweight maidens were by no means disgraced, their blade work and time being extremely good. The youths, which is an extremely strong crew, rowed well, and if they continue to take the same interest in their training as they have been doing during the last few weeks, success should come their way at the regatta. An excellent racing programme is being nut on by tho Petone Rowing Club for the Petone Gala Dav celebrations on Boxing Dav. There will ho a procession of boats along the waterfront at 1 p.m., and at 1.15 the races will commence, continuing until 2 p.m., and then being resumed from 3 p.m. to 4 p.m. The races will include senior fours, junior fours, senior pairs, novice fours, a married v. single men’s race, and a chalks® sculling race.

STAR BOATING CLUB

THE MAIDEN FOUR, The regatta crews of the Star Boating Club were able to get in some fairlv solid work during the last week, and given a spell of suitable weather will ..soon be getting into form. The maiden fours crew has good material in it. which only needs working up. Diehl, the stroke, was very successful ns stroke of the youths a conole of seasons ago. but since then be has done verv little regatta work. The spell should be to his advantage, and from apuearance he intends to make a big effort to break his maiden status. Blundell (No. 3) is a oowerful man, and with plenty of coaching should turn out to be a fine oarsman. He is vefy keen, and has a fair style, but has ii tendency to swing too' far back and rely rather much on arm work. McLean (No. 2) joined the club this season, having previously rowed for the Invercargill Oluh. He has been accustomed to rowing a different style to that adopted bv* Wellington clubs, but it will not take him long to drop into the local ideas. He has every appearance of being a strong oar nnd a rateable addition to the club’s membership. Newton, the bow, rowed in the youths last year, nnd has done a fair amount of club racing. He lias a good idea of the principles of rowing, and with ordinary luck should not take long to qualify for a seat in the juniors.