YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19373, 8 January 1925, Page 4

YACHTING.

By Rudder. FIXTURES. January 10.—Otago YuoM Club, Orphanage picnic; Raveusbourno Boating Club’s second senes of races. January 17.—Port Chalmers Regatta. January 21.—Horth-East Harbour Boating Club s all-comers' yacht race. January 29.— Auckland Anniversary Regatta (Boss Cup and New Zealand championship race for Hona-design 14 footers). Januarv 30. First Sanders Cup race (Auckland). January 31.—Second Senders Onp race (Auckland). January 31.—Port Chalmers Sailing Club s third series of races. . . February 7.—Otago Tacht Club’s second senes oi races. ~ , February 21.—Ravenebonme Regatta; Horth-isast Harbour Club (Elliott Cop race). February 28.—Harbour race for motor boats (Moflatt Onp); Ravensbonme Boating ciun (challenge race for local yachts); Fort Chalmers Sailing Club (Oliphant Cup race for 14-footors). March 7.—Otago Yacht Club’s 14-looter race (youths). . March 14.—Port Chalmers Sailing Club s races. March 21 Port Chalmers Sailing Club 6 races. April 11.—Broad Bay Boating Club’s senes of yacht and motor boat races. Although the weather conditions for tho Broad Bay regatta on New Year’s Day were not pleasant for the public, it was a test for all the sailing craft. The outstanding feature of the day was the splendid performance put up by lona in the race for 14footors. The performance can bo considered as one of the best registered in the harbour for many years. The boat was crippled with a damaged rudder for the greater part of tho race, and groat credit is duo to Alt. Wiseman for his skill in sailing lona round the course when she was almost unmanageable. A less skilful skipper wouldprobably havo been compelled to retire. When running before the wind on the final lap of the course the peak of lona’s mainsail was lowered in order to keep the boat from yawing. This, of coarse, reduced her speed considerably, otherwise she would havo beaten Winifred and Kia Ora by fully 1? minutes. lona gave one of her best exhibitions of sailing, and greatly impressed the large number of onlookers on the shore. Wiseman was ably assisted by the members of his orew during a trying period, and if they work with the same cohesion in the Sanders Cup races in Auckland there is one boat that they need worry about. That boat is Queen March. So far as Wellesley, Linnet and Murihikn are concerned, lona should, on her present form, easily beat these provincial representatives. Konini, tho Hawke’s Bay representative, will require watching, but if Otago can beat the Napier boat it will be no disgrace if lona is beaten by Queen March. Those Otago yachtsmen who have been closely connected with the Banders Oup contests, which date from the time when only two boats —Iron Duke and Heather—were in it, reckon that Otago has tho best chance of winning the cup this year that she over had. It will not be surprising, therefore, if tho boats ,are favoured with a, good full-sail or a one-reef breeze, to see lona sailed to victory under the skilful handling of Wiseman. Should the contest be held on Otago Harbour during Exhibition year, it is to bo hoped that Otago boat-buiklors will try their skill in building a boat to defend and hold the cup. Otago this year has a boat which is worthy to represent any province, and that boat will bo sailed at Auckland by a _ crow which is second to none in the dominion. Otago’s chances of winning the cup are very bright, and if lona does not bring back the trophy it will not be for tho lack of speed on tho part of the boat nor the lack of experience on tho part of tho crew. Otago’s hopes are in tho boat and crow. May those hopes be realised ! A well-known yachtsman who resided at Port Chalmers for many years, and who is now a resident of Wellington, visited Dunedin last week. Conversing on yachting subjects with “Rudder,” he said that Wellington had two splendid 14-footers in Wellesley and All Blade. Both boats were built for tho purpose of contesting the Sanders Oup, and Wellesley had been selected after a series of interesting and dose trials. The two boats were perfect, being within a fraction of an inch of the Rona design. Wellesley was built by Jukes and All Black by E- Bailey, and the craft are fitted out in a most elaborate stylo. While tho two boats were considered by Wellington yachtsmen to be equal to most of the present-day 14-footers as regards sailing, tho crews were not qualified to sail in Sanders Cup contests. The general opinion in Wellington was' that Wellesley would havo a good chance of winning tho cup if she were sailed by an experienced crow. There was keen disappointment in connection with the handling of Wellesley and All Black in the recent trial races. All Black was perhaps tne bettor bpat of tho two, as she showed great speed in all winds, but Wellesley had won tho trials on her merits. Wellington’s greatest drawback was the inefficiency of the. crows sailing in the 14-footers. ' Tie sailing dinghy Heathcote, owned by Mr 11. C. Brown, was launched on the atornoon of December 30 from Mr T. Carey’s boat-building yard at Carey’s 80-' before a large number of craftsmen. Tho craft, on entering the water, presented a. very smart appearance, and she was sailed against a sou’-wosterly wind, and shaped very well on tho course to Macandrow’s Bay.

Whangarei is gradually becoming a big boating centre, and it is surprising the number of Auckland launches which find a permanent home in tho northern port. The latest addition to its fleet is Adelaide IV, the 32-footar lately owned by Mr 0. H. Palmer and Dr H. Holmdon. A handsome silver oup has been offered to the Akarana Yacht Club (Auckland) for competition by the new Star class of keel yachts by tho Brett Printing and Publishing Company. Needless to say, the tropny will be accepted, and may 'be in the form of a points trophy for the new class, which it is hoped will become popular. Owing to the poor support accorded the Wellington Yacht and Motor Boat Association in its appeal for assistance to control tho Anniversary Day regatta, that 'body has announced that it cannot see its way clear to run tho day’s racing. Control of the regatta will now probably fall on the Koyal Port Nicholson Yacht Club, which will do its best to make the event a success. The annual regatta of the Stewart Island Yacht and Motor Boat Club was held in Half Moon Bay on Saturday last in perfect weather, warm sunshine prevailing all day, while a light breeze favoured the sailing events. The hundreds of holidaymakers at present staying at the popular resort gathered in full force in the morning, and tho wharf and esplanade was crowded with throngs of gaily-clad visitors. Besides the launch and cutter racing, an exhibition race between the two 14-foot Jelliooo class yachts Murihiku and Tom Thumb, owned by the clulb, was included in the’ programme. Great interest was taken in the event, which was won by the Sanders Cup challenger Mlurihiku, off tho scratch mark, by Imin 20sec. The programme for the Auckland Anniversary Regatta, which will bo held on Thursday, January 29, is a very lengthy and attractive one. There will ’ . close on 30 races for all classes of yachts and motor boats. Two events which will claim the attention of southern visiting crew? will bo the 14ft Sailing Dinghies Race (Jellicoo class) for tho Lapton Cup and miniature. Tho prize-money for this event is £7 IQs for first, £3 for second, and £1 for third. Tho 14-footers will also compete in the race for the Ross Gup and miniature. . The prizo-money is tho same a s for the Lipton Cup race, but £ls will bo added if the. winner comes from outside the Auckland province. Another important event will be the Auckland Anniversary Regatta championship and speed handicap for speed launches of over 20 knots. prizes for this event are £SO for first, £AI for second, and £5 for third. A special prize of £2O will be awarded to the launch registering tho fastest time, and a further £lO if the fastest boat come s from outside tho Auckland province. The programme also includes an open event for speed beats of over 12 knots. The prizes are £l6 for first, £7 for second, and £2 for third. Tiro third and final tost race to enable (he selectors to decide on the boat to defend tho Sanders Cup against the five southern challengers was sailed on the Waitomata on December 20 in a fresh sou’-sou’-west breeze, and resulted in Ron a beating Queen March by half a minute. In tho two previous races, both of which wore sailed in a fresh breeze. Queen March beat Uona, tho first time by 54 seconds, find the second lime by 1 minute 19 seconds. The selectors fully realised their responsibility and followed every move in tho throe contests most carefnllv. At a meeting on the evening of December 22 the four selectors unanimously decided on Queen March as the Auckland representative, and this decision wns adopted and confirmed at a special meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association tho same evening. “Speedwell,” tho aquatic writer for tho Auckland Star, says that tho choice ap-

pears to be a very popular one and should lend additional interest to the actual races for the Cup. Southern men know and well respect Rona, but Queen March is an unknown quantity to them, and it will remain to be seen how they get on against her. Wellesley has been chosen to represent Wellington province in the Sanders Memorial Oup contest at Auckland in January and February next, and whether or not she is superior to All Black, which has been her only serious rival in the local trials, the best wishes of Port Nicholson yachtmen will go with her (writes “Mainsail” in the Wellington Evening Post). She is a boat of which any harbour might be proud, both as regards her appearance and performance, and her presence at Auckland will oe but another reminder to the northern enthusiasts that Wellington, in the forthcoming struggle for the coveted trophy is making a bolder bid than ever before for supremacy. Out of seven trials Wellesley scored five wins, three of which were gained in open company and the other two in competition with All Black. She has shown a remarkable aptitude for heavy weather and light, and the manner in which she has set about the overtaking of her opponents when. the race seemed to all intents and purposes lost has always excited admiration. That bar wins have not been the result of fluky wind or choppy seas has been demonstrated time and again in the trials by hex ready response to skilful seamanship. There seems to be every possibility of Otago sending a crew of two boys to Auckland to compete in the sailing dinghy races (12ft bin. Takapuna class) for the Cornwell Cup, to bo sailed on the Waitemata at the same time as the races for the Sanders Cup. The Ravensboorne Boating Club has a boat whose crew is quite capable of taking part in such races, and there are several boys at Macandrew’s Bay who can, qualify. There is a possibility that the Ravensbotßme Club and the North-East Harbour Club will combine to send away a crew to represent Otago in the classic races. This class of boat can only be sailed in the Cornwell Cup races by boys and youths under 19 years of age, and the races will be quite distinct from the 14ft Jellicoe class. The races for the cup will be controlled by the Takapuna Boating Club, of which Mr O. Moller, formerly of Dunedin, is commodore, and who was the prime mover in bringing the 12ft bin class of boot into existence. It is to be hoped that the two clubs mentioned, together with the assistance of other bodies, will lose no time in arranging to send the boys to Auckland. There is very. little time to spare, as it will be necessary for Otago’s crew to be in the northern city before January 30i The visiting boys from the provinces will be billeted by members of. the Takapuna Club. A correspondent writes as follows in connection with the boys’ sailing dinghy race at th'e Macandrow Bay regatta, held on. Boxing Day:—“ln your yachting column of last week an account is given, of how the dinghy race for boys between. the ages of U and 17 came to be won. All the other boats being disqualified for minor infringements. Vision was loft victorious, and her skipper, with the advantage of age over the other competitors, cauld not do otherwise than refuse the prize, especially when the suggestion of a foul arose. Your contributor also explains how Spray came to be disqualified—for racing without a number. This 10footer finished first by a big margin, and one can imagine how the youngsters felt when the judges refused them the reward on such trifling grounds. Too strict adherence to trifling details on the part of the officials has all but killed the enthusiasm once shown in the Sanders .Cup trials, and in a race for boys and youths more encouragement from the officials would be appreciated, both by the boys and the spoiling fraternity.— l am, ehx, Father Judge.’’ The Young Men’s Club at Macandrow 1 # Bay is determined to assist the North-East Harbour Boating Club in even? way possible in the way of collecting funds towards defraying the expenses of Otago’s representative 14-footer and crew to Auckland. The members of the club have arranged to hold a fancy dress ball within the next two or three weeks, and it is anticipated that they will receive liberal support from the residents of the bays. The commodore of the Boating Club (Mr E. T. Moller) and the secretary of the Young Men’s Club (Mr C. Hook, jtm.) feel confident now that the young men of the district have taken the matter up that the necessary money will be forthcoming. The residents of Ravensfiottrne are now getting busy in connection with the annual regatta to be held on February 2L The first meeting of residents will be held on the evening of Monday, January 19, and it is expected that there will bo a large attendance. The Ravensbonme Boating dub will hold its second series of yacht and motor boat laces on Saturday afternoon. Winifred was out for a trial spin on Tuesday and again last evening. There was a nice full-sail south-east breeze last night, and Winifred showed a good turn of speed under her new mainsail, which, from the shore, seemed to set to perfection. This sail was recently procured by Geo. Kellett from Auckland. It is to be hoped that Winifred and lona will have another test before Otago’s Sanders Cup challenger is crated up for the journey to Auckland. NOTES FROM MACANDREW’S BAT. Tiie only boat of the North-East Harbour Club to bring back, any prize money from the Broad Bay regatta was the lOtt sailing dinghy tipray, which crossed the line first, but was placed second on handicap. She was sailed and handled well by Hugh Riddell, and, considering that this iad had never sailed Spray in a race before, he did remarkably well. Mavis, Agnes, and Mona, could not beat the crack boats on the handicaps that were conceded them. The buy has been very full of boats all the week, and a very large number of beys wore present during the holidays. The boatshed has never been free from owners and crews. Mona sailed at the Broad Bay regatta with a much heavier crew than usual, and the lads were practically new to the boat; otherwise she might have done better. Allan M’Doaald sailed this boat very well considering the above handicap. When Elsie’s bowsprit broke when sailing in the boy’s race at the Broad Bay regatta she was a good 30 seconds in front of Spray, and would no doubt have picked up the first prize but for the accident. On New' Year’s Eve Mr C. Hook’s boat was bcautifuly decorated with Chinese lanterns and bedecked with colours. With plenty of fireworks and fancy lights the boat looked very weil in the dark, and was admired very much from the shore. Visitors to the bay last week-end were Viper 11, Stella, Intrepid, Verona, Winifred, Dawn, Morata, Doris, Jewel, Shadow, and Mascotto. Hector Brown’s now boat Heathcote was sailing about the bay in good style during the week-end. It is understood that she is not quite complete yet, and has to be returned to the builder for slight alterations to her gear. The North-East Harbour Clnb’s allcomers’ yacht race is to be sailed on January 24. All boats intending to enter will be welcomed by the secretary. Mr Drummond visited the bay on Friday last with the Viper, and put up a few speed stunts. All on shore were greatly it* terestod in the boat. The launches Jewel and Marata were btuq boats during the holidays, taking partiel out for a day’s fishing. Isabel has had to lay at her mooringa all through th'e holidays. Her owner (Mr F. J. Carter) is still in hospital, but it is honed that he will soon be about gain. Commodore E. T. Moller h: ; been a frequent visitor to the boats! I, helping with all the boats and aclvisi . the lads generally and making thinr • iasy and pleasant for boat owners.