BOATING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 18990, 11 October 1923, Page 5

BOATING.

By Rudder. An air of bustle and expectancy is abroad wherever boats have been “on the hard.” The prospects of a successful season are excellent and hopes run high. Marewa, Nell, and Jowoll have been launched at the Boat Harbour during the week. Ralaco has iiiidergone fairly extensive improvement and a thorough overhaul and has also been launched. Feather is undergoing an overhaul in Bmifh’s Bay. and on the hnrboursido several of the smaller craft are being got ready for the races. Mr Magnus Smith, the well-known Lyttelton enthusiast, was in the city this week on a visit. He says Lyttelton will again he hoard of in the race for the Sanders Cup. Mr F. M‘Donald has had a, Le Roy ear engine installed in Mildred (one-time I’aticnce). Mr J. M’Pherson has just completed the job, and Mildred will bo afloat again at the week-end. "Dr Cottrells new launch is expected to he afloat inside a month. She is a fine vessel, and Mr J. M’Phcrson, as builder, has another first-class launch to his credit The Kermath engine will be installed shortly. The first rage for the Elliott Cup will bo sailed at Macandrew’s Bay_ on Saturday, October 27. This contest is restricted to 10ft dinghies, and is exciting much interest among the youthful crows. The Port heats Mona and lona are being got ready for the tests. lona, the onetime Linnet (of Lyttelton) has changed hands, Mr P. Hunter being the purchaser. Mona will again have Mr V. Matson as skipper. Mr F. B. Francis has sold the 14-fooler Vaimai to Field Brothers, who previously owned Sprat (one-time Bine Jacket). Mr W. G. C, Paterson and crew have bought Sprat, and they had a trip down the harbour yesterday. The' Raven'sbourne Boating Club opens the season on Saturday. October 20. lam informed that the prospects for a successful year are very promising. One gratifying feature is the increasing interest shown hy th ■ rising generation. The local association has made a businesslike start with the arrangements for the test races to determine the Otago representative boat in the contest for the Sanders Cup. The first test will bo sailed on Saturday, October 20, and another will bo sailed on Labour Day. The North-East Harbour Boating Club will open the season on Saturday, October 20, and invitations are now being issued. Macandrew’s Bay has become one of the live boating centres of the harbour,_ and each week-end witnesses increased activity. Mr B. S. Irwin's new purchase was in evidence at the week-end at Port Chalmers. Messrs “Togo” Watson, with R. Souter, W. Johnston, and F. Perry, took her out for a spin beating down as far as Rocky Point. She gave a good account of herself against a good nor’-cast breeze. Her crew express therpselves as being well satisfied with her in a stiff blow. A name has not yet been decided on for the new boat. Mr G. Lindsay has been elected handirapper for motor boats for the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club. For_ many years Air A. Welch has filled the position, and has received the unanimous thanks of the club for bis past services. He has very kindly consented to give Mr Lindsay some assistance in the new office, and his experience and records arc a valuable aid to a new handicapper. The combined opening of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club and the Broad Bay Boating Club will be held at Broad Bay on Saturday. November 5. The policy adopted by the parent club of helping the young chibs is in every way commendable. Last year the Otago Club combined with the North-East Harbour Boating Club, then the infant of the harbour, and the function was a great success. The combined outing this year should be equally successful. June is indulging in regular sailing practice, and she is shaping well A bent plate has interfered with her showing, and though her experience has been unfortunate it should act as a warning to other boatowners. In one of her trials June hugged Three Legs too closely, with the result that she struck one of the big stones at the end of the wall. It is therefore necessary to give Three Legs a wide berth. Eunice is sailing well, and now that the dates for the tesfc races have been fixed it will be necessary for the skippers of the 14-footers to get ready. At the annual meeting of the Yacht and Motor Boat Association in Wellington the Chairman referred to the need for every- ■ one to do his utmost to make the Pandora Cup contest this season a. success. Not only yachtsmen generally, but owners of motor boats must lend their support, as had been done last year at Auckland. An_ impression existed that the association considered only the intorst of yachtsmen, but this was not so. The association stands for both yachtsmen and motor boat enthusiasts, and the co-operation of all was necessary if the sport wa s to progress in The Sanders Cup races would he held in Wellington this season, and there was every reason to expect that the contest would continue to he an annual one, and interest in the cup would be increased accordingly. But the association must have the support of all who were interested in the sport. The season would probable bo a strenuous one, hut if all put their shoulders to the wheel, and the club members upheld the association. all would he well. He referred pnr-tic-ularly to the need for making the regatta a success. The first race for the Panders Cup will be held on Wednesday, January 23. Hie 1923-24 yachting season in Auckland promises to be a record one. both from a racing and a cruising point of view. Work on the numerous yachts and launches hauled up on the various beaches round about Auckland is now proceeding apace, and the good spell of weather experienced lately, has induced a number of owners to put' their craft afloat. The majority of the boats,, however, will not take the water until the end of the month, while a few others will not be in commission until about the second week in December. Generally speaking, alt the yachts and launches that were afloat last season will again be seen on the Waitemala, and in addition a large number of new boats of various designs and sizes will make their appearance. These include a new 8-metre yacht, four tuck stern centreboard boats, a 14ft, one-design boat, and numerous “flatties” and launches. Po far as the actual racing is concerned._ there is everv indication of keen competition in all classes of yachts. Of recent rears very little interest has been taken in launchracing so far as the actual cruiser type is concerned, and a big effort is now being made by the New Zealand Power Boat Association to establish a speed boat class which promises to be a success. The new 14-foot, one-design boat will be named Queen March, and will fly the Victoria Club’s burgee. r lhe question of speed boat racing has claimed the attention of the Now Zealand (Auckland) Power Boat. Association during the winter months, and tho_ coming season should see some very exciting contests on the Waitcmata. In addition to the 21ft restricted class, the association has agreed to establish a new class. No restrictions have been placed on the design or length of the hull, but all boats must be fitted with engines of not more than 151 cubic inches displacement. The class lends itself to a great deal of scope, a s there are, a largo number of engines on (he market suitable for its requirements. Af least three speed boats are expected to be seen racing this season: one to bo powered with a 220 h.p. Hispano Suiza' aeroplane motor, another with a 90 h.p. Curtiss, and the third with a Sunbeam aero engine- Speed boat racing has been taken tip in New Oonth Wales, Victoria, and Queensland, and there is every prospect of one of the Australian States ' sending a challenger to Auckland to race for the £SO challenge cup presented to the association by Messrs Mason and I’ortcr.