YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 19527, 9 July 1925, Page 5

YACHTING.

By Rttddeb. The launch Pakeha, after a thorough overhaul from stem to stern, was launched during the week-end. Her new owners are keen boating men, and in their capable hands this boat should always look her best. , , , , , Otago yachtsmen will be pleased to leam that Mr C. G. Smith has returned to Dunedin from an extended trip to the Nortn Island, greatly benefited in health. Owing to his illness early this year Mr Smith was prevented from taking his usual active interest in the sport, but it is pleasing to note that he gives early promise of being fit to take up his old post when the Sanders Cup trials commence towards tho end of this year. , It is understood that a meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association will bo held shortly to make arrangements for callin<>■ a public mooting in connection with tho Exhibition Regatta. Tim time has arrived when tho matter should bo placed on a concrete footing. _ The last two or three meetings of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association have not received that attention from chib delegates which it is desirable to see. One or two delegates have been conspicuous by their absence, and one delegate has failed to attend the last three meetings. Tins is to bo regretted ,as these men are appointed to tho asso tion to look after tho interests of their respective clubs and to assist in every way possible to foster the sport. Mr George Lindsay, who has been associated with boating in Dunedin for many years, will leave at tho end of next week for tho Nor ill Island to take up a position as assistant engineer to a largo electrical company. Boa ling men generally will regret his departure, as ho has held the position of handicappor of motor boats for some time past, and has always given satisfaction to boat owners. Mr Lindsay will bo missed by all those connected with the sport, and all wish him every success in his new field of operations. . Mr G. A. Wiseman is now engaged m building a slipway and cradle for Mr B. Nebs alongside tho boat shed at Broad Bay. The slipway and oradle is to accommodate Master Nees’s yacht Shadow. The annual meeting of the Broad Bay Boating Club will bo held next week. I have been informed that as tho past season was one, of the most successful in the history of the club, there is a substantial credit balance. The meeting of tho committee of the North-East Harbonr Boating Club was hold on Monday evening last, Commodore E. T. Moller presiaing. The financial statement was discussed, and it was decided _ txy ask members to forward their subscriptions, otherwise they will not bo entitled to vote at tho annual meeting, which takes place during tho second week in September. Tho treasurer was instructed to procure account forms to send to each member. Ihe committee decided to accept the offer of Mr Dobbie and his company to give a concert early in August in aid of the dab funds It was decided to ask tho present secretary to continue in that office until the annual mooting. Mr 0. J. Hook was appointed secretary of tho concert committee. It was decided that the commodore, past commodore, treasurer, secretary, and Mr C. J. Hook carefully revise the roll of members and delete all those who had left the district or who had ceased to take an active interest in the club. The committee decided to hold one more meeting before tho annual meeting. At the meeting of the North-East Harbour Boating Club’s committee on Monday evening last it was reported that tho boat shed was now in good condition, the club having spent a largo sum of money in effecting repairs. It was to bo regretted, however, that although tho club had gone to considerable expense in procuring ne locks for the doors, boat owners had not yet acquired tho habit of closing the large sliding doors after hauling their dinghies out of tho water. It is the intention of the present committee to recommend to the incoming committee to organise a scheme to raise funds for bringing the boat shed up-to-date. Thi- shed has proved a boon to boat owners, and it is hard to say how they would, have fared if such a fine shod had not been provided by the dub. At Portobollo is to bo seen tho hull of a 13ft hydroplane. This hull was built by Mr T. North, and is of tho “Bumble Bee’’ design, V bottom forward and flat stern. Mr North hoped to prove the ability of this craft with tho correct power, but just when everything was ready for the trials a gale sprang up and The Wasp slipped her moorings and was blown ashore. She w.as badly knocked about. It is under stood, however, that Mr North intends to make another attempt at building next

season. Last week-ond tho respective, owners of yachts and launches mode thoir pilgrimage to tho boat harbour, their objective being to pump out tho water which had accumulated in the various craft during last week’s heavy rain. On Sunday all the boats were again flying light. Mr W. Timms’ launch Jewel has been hauled up on tho Otago Yacht Club’s slipway for overhaul, and her usual winter lay-up. The owners of the -launch Quest are busy aboard their craft which is hauled up on the Otago Yacht Club’s slipway. It is tho owner’s intention to place tho engine further forward. This will give more room in tho cockpit and better protection of the engine. The owners of the launch Kelvin, after putting in some very hard wprk, have had very little cruising out of their craft since she has been put afloat. Her owners deserve bettor results after spending so much time on her. Tho old-yncht Calliope, after being refloated off tho ramp at the boat harbour, was placed on a cradle and hauled up on tho hard in preparation for tho placing ol an engine in her and general overhaul. The motor boat Iris, after being placed on Mr Fox’s cradle, has been hauled out and put into her winter quarters. Tlie launches Fan, Macrahaniah, Rawhiti, Noll, and Hazel wore out for a spin last week-end. Tho crews of Hazel and Nell cast tho fishing lines, but wore unsuccessful in their quest. Mr C. G. Macindoe, of Auckland, owner of the champion 14-footer Rona, and the motor launch Lady Una, paid a brief visit to Dunedin last wce,k. A start on the new 14-foot Jellicoo boat for Messrs F. and W. £loke, of Auckland, was made during the last week in 'June by Mr C- Bailey. Her owners have decided to call her the Avalon, and have placed an order for her sails with a well-known ; English firm. The announcement that Mr C. G. Mao- | indoe, of Auckland, intends making a trip j to Dunedin in his 45ft launch Lady Una, next January, has caused a good deal of interest in yachting circles here, and in other centres. Although Mr Macindoe has decided to limit his crow to six, it would appear from the remarks passed recently in Auckland that ho is likely to bo asked to try and find room for one or two more enthusiastic yachtsmen. Mr A. H. Court, of Auckland also proposes to make tho same cruise in the motor launch now being built for him by Messrs Codings and 8011. A 1660-mile cruise from Auckland to Dunedin and back will bo a practical way of showing tho keen interest Auckland yachtsmen take in tho annual contests for the Sanders Cup (says “Speedwell,” in tho Auckland Star). Mr Macindoe is tho owner of tho champion 14-footer Rona, which won the Sanders Oup in 1023 and 1924. There is an impression among; a great many yachtsmen that yachts and launches can bo bought in the United States <ji | America very cheaply. According to a letter received recently by an Auckland boating enthusiast from Boston, such is not the case. The Auckland yachtsman, who had an idea of purchasing a second-hand yacht, wrote for particulars and price of I a cruiser which be had seen advertised in an American publication. Her principal dimensions wore: Length, oyer all, 44ft 6in; 1.w.1., 25ft; beam, lift 3in; draught, 4ft bin. She was built of cedar in 1900, and had a keel as well as a centre-board, and tho prige asked for her was just under £SOO. For 'a boat of her age she is certainly not cheap, and, needless to say, no business will result as far as tho Aucklander is concerned. The prizes recently distributed by tho Victoria Cruising Club (Auckland) were useful and valuable. About 200 trophies were handed over to the season’s fortunate winners. The list included six cups, which are raced for each season until won outright at varying intervals, the Boonstra memorial carrying a miniature which is retained by the winner. Two handsome shields wore included in tho trophies, tbe Mackay memorial and another one presented by the residents of SurfdaJe. The idea, first carried out throe years ago, of exhibiting two 14-footora on the stage in full racing trim, gave a very nautical air to the proceedings. Tho numerous trophies came in for many favourable remarks from the visiting yachtsmen. Articles of use m the fitting out of yachts and thoir up-keep were in the majority. Coils of rope ot vaious sizes predominted; while there was a good showing of aluminium ware, kit bags, side and riding sights, paint, and brushes. Clocks and barometers, suit cases, and travelling rugs were also in evidence. Li addition to this fine array tho

sum of £llO in cash was also distributed. The 18-footer Solace, in which her owner. Dr Chesson, of Northcoto. has cruised so extensively, including 1 a visit to Whangaroa and back to Auckland, was built for net owner by Messrs Miller Bros., tno wellknown shipwrights, of Lyttelton. She is 18ft overall, 7ft beam, Ift 2in draught, with plate up, and sft 3in with it down. She has a good freeboard, over 3ft head room under her neat cabin top, and carries 217 square feet of sail in a mainsail and jib. Solace is what might be aptly termed a big-little boat, and has proved herself an exceptionally good sea boat. A new boat of the 18ft restricted class will probably bo built at Auckland shortly for Mr W. R. Wilson, late owner of the Maroro, last year’s addition to the class. There is some talk of a sixth boat, to bo built before the season commences. With six boats in this class the racing on Auckland Harbour will bo even more attractive than it was last season, when it was a regular matter for the four “M’s” to finish within the same minute. The principal dimensions of this class are: —Length overall, 18ft; beam, 7ft 6in; depth amidships, not less than Ift Sin; clinker, built of gin kauri planking; timbers, 6in centres, 1m by fin; keel, not less than Cin by l.m; docking, 7-16 in, calico covered; centreboard, length sft Sin, width 2ft, iin thick; Marconi rig, with 250 square feet of sail ir\ jib and mainsail; spinnaker boom, 12ft: hoist, 19ft. The cost is in the vicinity of £l5O. Towing in one form and another constitutes a largo part of every yachtsman s experience. The dinghy, for instance is recognised as a necessary nuisance, and it is worth a little thought to find out by what method its effect of pulling np the boat may bo reduced as much as possible (writes “Speedwell” in the Auckland Star). Although at first sight it does not appear to make much difference in what position the dinghy is towed, practical experiments go to show that there is a considerable difference in the pull registered at various distances aft of the yacht towing it. A few experiments have been carried out by “Speedwell” with a 9-foot dinghy towing astern of a motor boat 36ft in length, travelling at nine knots. The result of these experiments were, briefly, that the dinghy was found to pull much lass who" very close to the launch than at some distance astern. When allowed a still greater length of tow rope, the dinghy came along fairly steadily, particularly if on the downward slope of the second wave. There is usually a wave immediately aft of the tuck which may be termed the following wave, and a very good position for towinp is on the forward ( slope of this wave, for, since this is moving forward, the resistance of the dinghy is lessoned. The net result of the experience goes to show that behind a launch a dinghy pulls much less when the stern of the dinghy is less than a fool clear of the tuck. This, of course, is not possible in bad weather, particularly in a following' sea, on account of damage to the boat’s stern caused by the dinghv “charging.” It was found that the best-, method of towing was by means of a bridle, consisting of two ropes from (he stem of the dinghy to each quarter of the launch. They can have lights simply slipped over cleats or bollards, and the dinghy will be quite safe. This has an advantage when it is required to cast off in a hurry, or while there is way on the launch. It was found that when a dinghy was towed behind a launch with a sharp stem she towed well when the dinghy's bow was only a few feet abaft the cockpit.