YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20252, 10 November 1927, Page 5

YACHTING.

By Rhodes. COMING EVENTS. North-East Harbour Club’s Fixtures.— December 5 (Elliott Cup race); January 7, February 25 (Strang Cup race). November 19. —Otago Yacht Club (opening day). November 26.—Ravensbourne Club (opening day); Sanders Cup and Takapuna class trial races; Otago Yacht Club (first series of races). December 3.—Sanders Gup and Takapuna class trial races. December 10.—Ravensbourne Club races. Sanders Cup and Takapuna class trial races. December 17. —Sanders Cup and Takapuna class trial races. , December 26.—Macandrew’s Bay regatta. January 2.—Broad Bay regatta. January 7.—Ravensbourne Club races; • Otago Yacht Club (cruising race 10 Broad Bay) February 18. —Otago Yacht Club (second series of races). March 17. —Otago TJacht Club (Moffett Cup race). SPECIAL EVENTS. . Outboard Motor Boat races for Paterson Cup (Otago Yacht Club). —First race, November 26; second race, January 7; final race, February 18. v Tho season is now under way, all tho clubs having got tho largest part of their fleets On the water and ready for the commencement of the racing. Tno launches and sailing _ boats afloat are in splendid order, looking spick and span in their fresh coats of paint, while internally a number of them have undergone a very thorough overhaul The interest taken in launch . racing in all the clubs is a great incentive to owners to have their engines, in tho best possible running order. If all .owners exhibit the usual degree of interest in racing, the season should see some fairly large fleets start in tho various club races. The regular club racing was cornmenceo by tho North-East Harbour Club last Saturday afternoon, and while the competitors were limited, the racing was interesting. The Otago Yacht Club will stage four attractive races on Novembei 26. There will be a general handicap race for yachts, a race for motor boats classed as capable of .doing 7i miles per hour and under, and also a race for motor boats doing miles per hour. Tho first race between outboard motor boats (class B), for the Paterson Cup, will also bo held on November 26. The crews of Sea Hawk, Experiment, and Lassie were out on . Sunday, and received a good drenching in the heavy sea which was running at nigh water. Tho launch Moana is to be put in commission again after a lengthy spell on the hard at the boat harbour. Tho Moana is a striking little vessel, and she will look well when she has been, overhauled and painted, as she has very fine lines. The launch Arawa was launched last Saturday, and was out for a run on Sunday. Sne looks very smart, and moved through the water very well The launch Elgie has been placed on a cradle at the boat harbour and is now receiving the final touches. She should be launched very soon. The Otago Yacht Club, committee has arranged an attractive racing programme for the 1927-28 season. One of the principal features will be the races between the new outboard motor boats for the Paterson Cup. The first race for this handsome trophy will bo held on November 26, the second on January 7, and the final on February 18. The club will open ita season on November 19. The first series of club races will be held on November 26, the usual cruising race to Broad Bay will be held on January 7, the second aeries of races on February 18, and the motor boat race for the Moffett Cup will be decided on March 17. The usual club picnics have yet to be arranged by the Social Committee. Tho Takapuna one-design boat Colleen will b© sailed by Campbell and J. Ross in tho series of races to be sailed to select Otago’s crew for the Cornwell Cup contest at Auckland. Carl Holler has acted wisely in handing over Colleen to the two youths. Campbell is an experienced yachtsman, while young Ross has also had some experience with small sailing boats. Last season Campbell built the Lassie with the intention of competing in the trials, but the boat was not eligible owing to the fact that she was built of white pine This was a disappointment to the boy, but he will now be given an opportunitv of showing his worth at the tiller of Colleen. OTAGO’S NEW BONA BOAT. Excellent progress has been made by Mr E. Leach with the building of tho new Bona boat at Bavensbourne. The boat is all planked, and a start has been made placing the ribs in position. The ribs are of hickory, which is considered the best timber for this particular part of the coat’s construction. The syndicate has been fortunate in being _ able to procure the best quality kauri timber for the undertaking. The decking will be almost completed at the end of next week, and if the same progress is maintained the boat should be ready for launching before November 26. The promoters nope to have the craft ready for a try-out in about two weeks’ time. From present appearances the new craft is a replica of Bona. / She has the same square bilge as the Auckland boat, but is not quite so fine forward as the Canterbury champion Betty. Anyone with a knowledge of boat building, viewing the new , boat at tho present time, must be convinced that Mr Leach and his capable assistants will turn out a first-class job. STEWART ISLAND NEWS. Writing from Stewart Island under date October 27, Mr R. Allan states that Mr A. Ball has nearly completed building a new 14-footer., She has been built from the moulds of Murihiku 11, and Mr T. Bragg has expressed the opinion that she is a true Rona type. The boat_ will be painted light grey on the top sides and a dark grey bottom. The paint will be put on by a patent blowing process, which leaves a surface better than French polish. A casual look at the lines of the new boat conveys the impression that she should sail well. She will not be named until later. Mr Bragg will have the boat under his care, and he will select a crew to sail her in the Sanders Cup trials, which will begin some time this month. At a meeting of the Stewart Island County Council, held recently, most of the members stated that they were in favour of assisting the Stewart Island Sailing Club to provide shelter for the visiting boats during the Sanders Cup races in February. In all probability a shed will be built on the Sailing Club s site in front of Elgin terrace or at Thule, should it be decided to hold the races in Paterson’s Inlet. Inquiries are already being . made for rooms at the various houses, and it is expected that there will be a keen demand for accommodation, later.' There is sure to be a big contingent of visitors from Otago and Canterbury. SANDERS CUP CONTEST. Speaking at the annual meeting of the Auckland Yacht and Motor Boat Association. held recently, the chairman (Mr J B. Johnston) said there was no doubt that interest in the Jellicoe class in Auckland was waning. This was much to be regretted. The excessive cost for ■ such a small type of boat had a great deal to do with the waning popularity of the class. New boats were not being built in Auckland, and it would be detrimental for yachting generally if Auckland dropped out of the contest for the Sanders Cup. In the south, interest was as keen as ever. New boats were being built by southern enthusiasts, and the sole topic in yachting circles was the annual contest for the cup. As chairman of the Auckland association for a number of years past, the only difficulty he had experienced was the financing of the contest. It was disheartening and annoying to hear some of tho delegates say that their particular club would not contribute toward the cost of the contest. Surely they must realise that the contest could not be run without funds. The expenses were, after all, not heavy, when each club paid its share of the costs incurred. Even if certain clubs did not actually hold with the contest, they should give it their financial support for the good of the sport in New Zealand. The question whether Auckland will be represented at the next contest has not yet been discussed by the association, but as the annual meeting has been held, the matter will be brought forward at an early date.