YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19351, 11 December 1924, Page 4

YACHTING.

Bt Ruddee.

FIXTITEES. December 13.—Otago Yacht Club’s cruising race to Broad Bay; general handicap motor boat race; North-East Harbour Boating Club's motor boat races. December 20.—Port Chalmers Sailing Club’s

second series of races. December 26.—Maoandrew's Bay Begatta. January I.—Broad Bay Begatta. January 10.—Otago Yacht Club, Orphanage picnic; Eavensbourne Boating Club’s second series of races. January 17.—Port Chalmers Begatta January 24.—North-East Harbour Boating Club’s all-comers’ yaoht race. January 30.—First Sanders Cup race at Auckland. January 31,—Port Chalmers Sailing Club’s third

series of races. February 7.—Otago Yacht Club’s second series ol

races. February 21.—Eavensbourne Begatta, North-East Harbour Club (Elliott Cup race). February 28.—Harbour race for motor boat* (Mofiatt Cup).; Eavensbourne Boating Club (challenge race for local yachts); Port Chalmers Sailing Club (Oliphant Oap race for 14-footers).

The Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club’s cruising races to Broad Bay will be held on Saturday. The first race is a general handicap for yachts to start at 2.30 p.m., for trophies presented by Eat-commodore H. F. Nees and Mr F. B. Francis. The second race is a general handicap for motor boats, to start at 2.45 p.m.. for trophies presented by Mr R. Hudson and Mr T. R. Burt. Tho course for the motor boat raco will bo as follows:—To start over an imaginary line extending between the mouth. o£ the Boat-Harbour and the block channel post, thence round the three legs, keeping the eastern channel course and finishing across an imaginary line extending from Hanlon’s jetty and the end of the Broad Bay wharf. There will be no model yacht races on Saturday. A determined effort should be made to try and get a lake made on the present unreclaimed portion of Lake Logan. It is considered by many that some provision should be made for those youths who have model yachts and cannot secure a suitable sheet of water to sail them on. Hockey, football, and other sports bodies will be grouted privileges on the area that was once Lake Logan. Why not conserve a small portion for our young aquatic friends? A meeting should be called with the object of bringing the views of sympathisers before the proper authorities. , Messrs W* J. Mahs and J. A. Mahs, of Ravensbourne, have secured a Sea Spook design from Mr D. Paterson, and have started to build the boat. Good progress is being made, and the builders hope to have her afloat in time for racing before the end of the season. They have purchased the Eunice’s mainsail, staysail, leader, and spinnaker. The Sea Spook class_ is tne 14ft square bilge type of yacht that is such a general favourite in Auckland. Ths boats show a great turn of speed off the wind, and can more than bold their own against the Jellicoe class of boat. Mr Liddle, of Ravensbourne, is so much taken up with Messrs Mahs’ boat that he has decided to build one. For the information of those who intend competing in the Otago Yacht Club’s series of races the following rules are quoted in regard to the starting of races: Rule 65 (a), Yachts shall start under way, unless other-

wise specified, by the Sailing Committee. Before starting the class colour flag will be hoisted as a preparative flag for each class of boat. Five minutes before the start the preparative flag will be lowered and the Bine Perter hoisted. After this signal boats will be amenable to the rules. At the expiration ■of five minutes exactly the Blue Peter will be hauled down and a gun fired as a signal to start. In the Yacht Club rules a proviso is made as follows: —Should the gun misafiro the lowering of the Blue Peter shall be the signal to start. It is hoped that competitors in the future series of races will place this paragraph in their respective sheds, as it may bis of some benefit to some members whose limited knowledge of yachting rules are only partlylearned in some little obscure bay. In evel-y clas.A of sport one will find a “spoil sport” Or . “growler.” That he *s never taken seriously is very gratifying to '’ those whose duties he so often criticises. An instance occurred in the first series of the Otago Yacht Club’s races held this year. After the finish of one of the yacht races a youthful competitor made his appearance at the starting and finishing post at • the Boat Harbour and wanted to know why such and such a yacht was not disqualified as she was (according to him) supposed to have gone round the buoy on the wrong hand. As there were only enough officials present to check finishing times and correct the handicaps, they were unable to follow the doings of the competitors, and the growler was told so. Rule 80 was read to him.. Abbreviated, it reads: A protest on the score of a breach of the rules occurring during a race must bo signified by showing a flag on the rigging of the protesting yacht, unless the competitor has no knowledge of the facts until after the conclusion of the race; further, all protests shall be made in writing, and the rule or rules alleged to be broken must be named. As there was plenty of time for his protest to be taken.' ho did not avail himself of the opportunity of doing so. Could not some of the older hands belnging to the club from whence this youth cams see their way clear to give a lecture on “Rules of the Sea” to their young budding yachtsmen from the Bay? A new 14-footer, which has been christened All Black, was launched at Wellington on November 29. * The boat was built by Mr Bailey, and the time taken in her construction must be something of a record. It was just over three weeks from the time operations were commenced until the craft was launched. The boat is painted black, with a silver lino running round the hull, and 'presents a very handsome appearance. She will race under a suit of Auckland-made sails. In view of the Sanders Cup contest, commencing on the Waitemata. on January 30, it is proposed by the Auckland Anniversary Committee to put on two races for the Jeflicoe boats on regatta day. In the morning the race for the Lipton Challenge Cup will be sailed and in the afternoon the boats will compete for rho Ross Cup. A new 14-foot boat, built to the Roue, plans, made her appearance on November 22 on the upper reaches of the Waitemata. The building of this craft was carried out “on the quiet” at Henderson, and her owner has made a good job of her for an amateur. The preliminary programme for the Auckland Anniversary Regatta has been drawn up. The sailing races are the same as at the last regatta with one or two exceptions, while the prize money suggested shows an all round increase of £33, a good percentage of this being allotted to the smaller classes. In addition to the races for the usual mullet boat classes (H. I*, and N.), a special event is provided for 28ft mullet boats and also for the American designed star class boats. The first prize recommended for the 28-footers is £lO and for the star boats £7. There will be three of the latter class and they are expected to be launched at an early date. The race for the 14ft Jellicoe class in the first series of the Aknrana Yacht Club’s races, sailed at Auckland on November 29, saw Iron Duke, Rona, Idler, Joan, and Queen March cross the line at gunfire in that order. All set spinnakers smartly for the haul up the harbour. Iron Duke was showing the way with Joan handy. On the close haul up the harbour Iron Duke was stiil in charge. Joan came next, and then Idler, Rona, and Queen March in thatorder. Passing the mark boat Iron Duke had a lead of 40 seconds from Joan, which was over two minutes ahead of Idler, and the other two Boats. Un till this stage the race had been interesting, but the falling wind gave the boats a setback. Iron Duke, Joan, and Idler “carried on,” but Rona and Queen March retired.- _ Joan finally headed Iron Duke, and the finish was timed ns follows Joan (2min), Shr 52min 45sec', Idler (3min), 6hr 54min 22500; Iron Duke (2min), Shr 64min 49seo, nesult; Joan 1, Idler 2, Iron Duke 5.

The absence of Queen March from the race for the Jellicoe class at 'the Victoria Club’s fixture at Auckland on November 22 caused keen disappointment to many who expected to witness a great tussle between her and Kona. The result as far as these two boats are concerned was made more inconclusive still owing to the fact that on the previous Saturday Rona was not ready to race, and eventually gave up before completing one round. Joan and Iron Duke have clearly shown that they are to bo reckoned with._ Iron Duke’a good point is on the wind, while Joan always was a fast boat with the wind free. The race on November 22 did no - ; call for anv great sea/manship, and all four boats were never yery far apart at any stage of the course. Iron Duke sailed very consistently each day, and both she and Joan fully justify their seleotioa for the trial races.

The launch. Marie, formerly Marguerite, which was recently purchased by Mr F, B, Francis, was placed in the water last week-end after having received an extensive overhaul. The engine was overhauled and put in excellent working order by Mr T. Brooks. So complete was his work that ho had the engine running when the boat was going down the slip-way. Marie is now in first-class order, and Mr Francis should spend many pleasant days cruising about the harbour during the season. The craft was taken for a spin immediately after being launched, and gave every satisfaction* It is understood that the Port Chalmers 14-footer_ Squib has been purchased by Mr R< T. Simpson, and that her future home will be the estuary at Karitone. It is quite possible that Mr W. Fraser will occasionally ship as for’ard hand. TYPE FOB THE TASMAN* CUP. Lengthy discussion took place at n recent meeting of the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club on the best type of yacht for the Tasman Cup competition (says "Mainsail” in the Wellington Evening Post). The report of the sub-committee set up to .consider the matter stated that four types had been selected for a final decision. They were the American "Star” class, the International 10ft class, the international six-metre class, and a boat for handicap races which would be selected to represent her province and would be able to sail from her home port to the poit where the race was to he held. The disadvantages and advantages of all four types were discussed at length In the report, which stated that the first three boats possessed the merit of providing races free from any handicaps, and, further, the rules for such races were well established. The fourth type had the ad-* vantage that a raco could almost certainly be commenced at an early date. The report said that the committee had finally, by a bare majority, decided to recommenw the six-metre class, artel at the same time recommended that a copy of the report be cent to the Royal Tacht Squadron. Also, It recommended that it should have power to appoint one oc two club members to discuss the question if the squadron will meet them in Auckland in January at the time of the Sandeis Cup contests. The committee had been somewhat influenced in Its selection by a press report from Otago which stated that the international sixmetre class was suitable for Interprov»clal racing, and that there was a probability of two boats of the type being built in Dunedin.

NOTES FROM MACANDRBWS BAT, All the bay boats were out during the Week-end, with the exception of Mona, which is having her reefing gear repaired. Mona’s crow, however, were not barred from having a sail, as Allan M'Douald rigged his father’s boat with a big ingsail and spent the time in getting a good.deal of sport from this 1.-ig boat. The Macandrew's Bay Regatta Committee held a satisfactory meeting last Saturday evening, when a good deal of detail work was done In connection with the final arrangements for Boxing Day. It is expected that largo entries will be forthcoming for all events. This is not to be wondered ct, as the committee have certainly catered well for al* classes of yachts and motor boats, and specially for rowing and swimming enthusiasts. It is anticipated that the regatta will be the best In the harbour.

The North-Bast- Harbour Boating Club will hold its launch race on Saturday next. Last year these races were very popular, and in both the 4 h.p. and under and over 4- h.p". a good fleet faced’ the starter. The club expects good entries this year, although they are overlapping with the Yacht Club’s cruising race to Broad Bay.

Mavis visited Port Chalmers on Saturday last to take part in the Port Chalmers Sailing Club’s races, but the crew were disappointed. On their arrival it was found that the races had been postponed until some future date. These -lads are very keen to give everything a go that comes along in the way of racing.

The 10-footcr Mascot and the 12-footer Scud visited the bay during the week-end, each boat carrying a good crew. After lunch ashore the boys sailed around the bay in great style. Gardner and Reevea later went for a spin in the local 10-footer Spray. The lads spent a good day. .The little boats were splendidly handled by their young crews, especially Scud’s' crew. A stiff breeze came up in the afternoon, and the boys bed to reef for the home Journey. Jewel went to Anderson’s Bay on Saturday last to tow down the launch Palmer, which is to be overhauled for the season at Company’s Bay. Jewel has been moored at the bay all the past week, her owner taking a spin of an evening as far as Port Chalmers.