WELL-MUDDLED START

NZ Truth, Issue 1305, 18 December 1930, Page 17

WELL- MUDDLED START

Yachting

Evans Bay Races Arrangements Left

Much To Be Desired

SOMES ISLAND BUOY MISSING

(From "N.Z. Truth's" Special Wellington Representative.) The starting of the Evans Bay races over the week-end left a lot to be desired. The time was made public, but what happened to the flag which was to show the skippers whether the weather was light, moderate or heavy? The centre-board fleet also had ample room for complaint. About half the field missed the start owing to the five-minute flag being forgotten. Arid to finalize matters the buoy at Somes Island was missing!

THE R.P.N. Yachts had every to * protest, It was originally intended that the scratch boat should start at 3.30 p.m., under the Mark Foy system, Avhich so far this season at the Bay has been a wash-out. The limit boat. Linnet, has to come all the way from the boat harbor, and should skipper and crew miss their'- lunch, they have little show of getting round 'm time. One decided benefit of the Port Nicholson races is that the skippers can tell when they haA'e missed the gun and thus return home. The centre-board event was also a \

most unsatisfactory a.ffair. Thc (starting line is far too long, and the field far 100 big. Chi Saturday, Kio 11 showed her worth m the heavy stuff, but she had to stand a strong challenge from Freddie Harland, who sailed a great race m thc Idono. All the boats had some narrow escapes. Three, including the Poneke, capsized. "Fatty" Elliott, her skip-, per, three times cried, "She's going,"' and genial Charlie Lihdsay!s echo, . "She's gone," finished the episode. •,- Joe Turner did exceedingly well to stay'

.aboard Avith only a crew of three. It was a good heavy four-men bloAv. The postponed race on Sunday saw the Betty lead all the way, and "Cooce" Johnston and his crew were not extended to Avin from the Kio TL Their spinnaker work was again very poor. The Clyde showed something like her real form at last, and Mic. Crawford will yet land' the mustard. . ' "Sprunger" Leake, had one reef m the Nancy and, assisted by owner Charlie Holmes, was next, with the Idono and the Wellesley IT, which Avas lost without her usual pilot, and Indolence coming up m the rear. The Indolence went like a delayed coalhulk. On the last round she began to slioav something like her real form, but the crew Avill haye to improve greatly on this performance. . The surprise of the race was the showing of the Violet, better known to the Bay lads as "Toilet." Skipper Rolls has a high opinion of her capabilities, but she stilt has to go a long way to justify them. Kia-Ora, with .T. Nicholson at the helm, Peggy and Kewpie, went away to a good start at Paremata, but Kotuku II and Miss Josephine Avere closing up on them hy thc time Moorchouse's Buoy was reached. On the beat to Brown's. Kotuku went to the front and maintained the lead practically to the finish. Bill Ginders had the race m the bag, but Dougal McKenzie out-manoeuvred him m the middle of. the Bay. The Peggy was a good . way back, third, with . the rest: hopelessly beaten. • The disappointment of the race Avas Bert*.' Sterling, back m. his Kuini. Despite small entries, the second -platers provided an interesting race. Ma.ire, wellhandled .by 'lan*. Watts, was never headed, and beat the scratch -marker. Tui, easily. Len France certainly has mastered the tennis court, but his' latest showing on the water was anything but. artistic He ran aground just after the start I and afterwards was never m the hunt. ./

THE Paremata fleet are likely absentees at the Anniversary Regatta, Wellington. A couple of boats may come down to Evans Ba\\ but Kotuhu H. among others, is definitely a non-starter. Their absence is to be regretted, but it is hardly worth while to bring the boats down the Paremata for one day's racing. ...