BOATING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19155, 24 April 1924, Page 5

BOATING.

By iIuDDWt.

The youngest club in the harbour—the Broajl Bay Boating Club —held its first series of races on Saturday. Those provided contests for yachts, motor boats, and sailing dinghies. The weather was good, and the proceedings passed otf satisfactorily. In some respects the races were among the .best of the season, and the Motor Boat Race was keenly contested. Mr G. P. Lindsay succeeded in getting the boats closely bunched at the finish of the rate —the real test of successful handicapping. Tne General Handicap for Yachts at Broad Bay on Saturday gave Tucana another oportunity to show her mettle. This fine boat lias done well during the season, having won several races. When the ferry boat rounded Grassy Point the sailing fleet approaching the turning buoy presented a pleasing sight. The nine boats in the fresh breeze were tunning before the wind, and they ranged in size from the first-class yacht Tucana down to the diminutive Spray and Mascotte The Combined Motor Boat Race at Broad Bay on Saturday was an example of good handicapping. Jewel defeated Marewa by 25sec, and Aotea was limn ssec behind Marewa, beating Matnari for third oiace bv ssec, and Laura was five seconds behind Maman. Stella was Imin 15sec behind Laura, Ngaio finished five seconds later, and Ripple finished 40 seconds after Ngaio. The race was started on the Mark Foy system, and though the officials were handicapped by lack of equipment the race was n vast improvement on contests of the processional order. The boating season may now he said to have officially closed. Enthusiasts will still abound in fair numbers who will lake advantage of the many good wintry days for boating, but in the main the boats will be laid up and the crews will cither play or patronise the winter sports. Queen March, Auckland's newest 14footer, has won eight first prizes, three seconds, and four thirds, and has finished first in 11 races during the past season. We are given to understand that Mr Eliot Davis will offer a more suitable boat than Queen March to the Boy Scouts, in which case we shall see her racing next season with Mr Matthews again at the tiller. What will bo described as the lightest boat for practical use is that being manufactured by Messrs S. 14. Saunders. Ltd., of East Cowes, Isle of Wight. The craft in question is an Bft 6in dinghy nianutactured in two pieces of “Consuta” sewn plywood. The total weight of (he boat when complete and ready for use is under 601 b. 'This type of boat is beine- constructed for special purposes, but very shortly this company intend to jrroducc these light dinghies on a large scale for use on board yachts and other small sea and river craft where lightness of equipment coupled with utility is of first importance. It should be added that these dinghies are quite seaworthy in a heavy sea —in fact, that is the definite use to which they will be called. After viewing the conditions under which yachtsmen in other centres have to contend with it brings home forcibly what fortunate men w e are (writes “Speedwell” in the Auckland Star), and what ideal conditions in many respects we enjoy for both racing and more especially for our varied choice of cruising grounds. Our pleasure fleet is variously estimated from 600 to SCO craft, and even the latter figure is not exaggerated. With the continued growth of the city an increasing number of citizens will find the lure of the water strong upon • hem, and in the space of five or six years the fleet might easilv be increased by 50 per ciint. _ Not only will numbers increase, but the size, snecd, and general comfort of our boats will be vastly improved. Local dubs will be called on to' provide increased and better facilities for their members, while the authorties must also realise their share of the responsibility of providing adequate facilities for the people of Auckland to iixireate on the water as they now do for those who stick to the shore About 10 miles from Lyttelton, down the harbour and out past Port Cooper Iliads, a little Maori settlement, once a strong pa hes on the shore., of Port Levy. A fleet of neat trawlers, always moored safely in the ca m waters after the day’s fishing, provide the moans for many of the Maoris. Imre a year the settlers make preparations ‘or a,big regatta, when yachts and launches from Now Brighton, Lyttelton, and Redehtts, will sail the placid waters, and people from far and near will enjoy themseves. At this year’s regatta, ued on Easter Monday, the air was light and local interest centres wholly in the First-cJasg Yacht twice on account of so many ex-Otago, boats, comoet*ng, Waimana. Miro, Annis, and Te Aria were the starters. Unaccountably Miro, which was making for the lino first, did not cross, but reached across for the leesborc buoy. She was recalled and then crossed ♦ha lino. Well to windward. Waimana was teading Annis at the buoy, with To -.ria racing dose up, while Miro. which had gained much ground, was only a few seconds behind. As they tacked across to windward the yachts were nbarly becalmed for some time, but the close order was still the same at the finish. Resuits A. Miller’s Annis (owner), 4min 1 ■f. Waddell’s Miro (owner), 4min 2 E. Tlarkess’s Waimana (T. Harkeesj. sor 3 SANDERS CUP EXPENSES. Wellington and -uckland have had some difficulty in raising funds to defray the expenses of competing boats and crews in the Sanders Cup. “Speedwell” lias this to say regarding Auckland: “In connection with the financing of the Sanders Cup contests, a letter has been sent to all affiliated clubs by the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association, setting out the position very clearly. As the chairman, Mr Johnston, says, the matter must be faced squarely and a future course decided on. The contest for this cup has aroused more interest, in our sport than any L.. ng ever attempted in the past and it is unthinKable i.nat Auckland, which originated the class and the contest for the cup, should withdraw from the fight. It has been said that wo should foster a larger class for interprovincial racing. If we cannot raise the necessary funds to pay the expense of a fourteen-footer how can wo hope to do so for a larger class? No, the fourteen-footer has come to stay and will serve the purpose of testing the quality of the dominion’s best boats and crews which might never have had a chance to meet but for the four-teen-footers. No doubt before the next meeting of the association, the clubs which have not yet realised their moral, if not legal, responsibilities, will have seen the matter in a true sporting spirit. “They do so in all southern centres, especially in Stewart Island, which with only 350 inhabitants, cleared over £3O by one concert for this cause. This represents about 2s per head for every man, woman, and child on the island, and speaks well for their interest and enthusiasm in the cause of the fourteen-footer contests. If the whole cost of sending a challenger fell to one club, as in some centres, it might bp counted a burden. But it is not any one club’s matter as the boat sent belong-, to and races in each club catering for this class, and even in the case of the clubs which do not bold races for fourteen-footers, they are indirecily benefited by the interest taken in the sport generally which this class has undoubtedly caused. The boat was chosen (and all must admit she was well chosen) to represent the yachting interests of Auckland, and ns chibs having their home and interests on the Waitomata, we should all do our bit and so remove the reproach that two gentlemen have had to pay the piner for the last contest which will he the “last” for us if thev do not. The concluding paragraph of the letter says, "The other alternative is for the clubs to decide against the contests and to instruct the association t 0 withdraw, f-iurii a decision would so redound to the everlasting discredit of Auckland that it is unworthy of consideration. It is to bo hoped that all will recognise the fact that the honour of beating the best that the rest of the dominion can put nn in the wav of boat and crew is worth the subscription of a sVlling or two Per member, which is all it amounts to after all. 'I he total deficiency is £3B. It only wants one or two members imbued with the real sporting spirit to give the matter a fair start when the boys will follow their load in quicktime.”