YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20316, 26 January 1928, Page 5

YACHTING.

By Ruddee. FIXTURES. January 2S. —Port Chalmers Club races. February 4. St. Leonards regatta February 18. —Otago Yacht Club (second series of races). February 25. —North-East Harbour Club (Strang Cup race); Port Chalmers regatta. March 3.—Port Chalmers Club races; Ravensbourne regatta. March 17. —Otago Yacht Club (Moffett Cup race;; Favcnsbourno Club races. April 7-—Broad Bay Club races. SANDERS CUP—STEWART ISLAND. February 17,- first race; February 15, second race; February 20, third race; February 21, fourth race. Mr R. Allan, who had been an inmate of the Southland Hospital for some time, lias recovered his former health, and returned to Stewart Island. Mr Allan is an enthusiastic yachtsman, and sailed in many classes of boats on Otago Harbour. The launch Kelvin has_ just had a thorough overhaul, and is ready for launching. The crew of the Albatross has placed the craft in commission, and is getting quite a lot of enjoyment out of the old boat. Boat owners and crews took full ad■“svntage of the favourable weather experienced last week-end, and very few boats remained at their moorings. Most of the crows visited the various bays. On Saturday, however, the Upper Harbour presented a sight which was pleasing to the eye of any yachtsmen, when the Thelma, Minnow, Miti. Experiment, Kia Ora (skimmer). Seagull, and Eileen and Kia Ora (14-footers) were all seen cruising off the wharves. The outboard motor boat Jade and the launches Spitfire and Dolphin were also to be seen. The skimmer Kia Ora has been purchased by the Marr Brothers. The boat will be taken to permanent moorings at St Leonards this week-end. The small sailing boats Frolic and AraEui are now being overhauled. Both boats will be seen under canvas <at the regatta to be held at St. Leonards on February 4. Boating men will regret the death of Mi P. Harndgo, which occurerd suddenly at Purakanui, on January 23. The deceased was one of the old school of yachtsmen on Otago Harbour. He was a member of the Ravensfcourno Club for about 25 years, and was secretary of the club during the period of the Great War. When iu his prune he sailed the old yacht Goldseeker. Mr Harridgo was also a member of the K-avensbourne Football Club. He had not enjoyed the best of health for some time, an'd, consequently, had not taken a prominent cart in boating for years. The question of non-competing launenes being on the course while a race was in progress was adversely commented on hj members at a meeting of the Macandrew Bay Regatta Committee on January 14. The practice of the outboard motors making a din when not competing was also adversely commented upon. Ihe committee decided to refer both matters to the Otago Yacht Association for its consideration, and the complaint regarding the noise caused by outboard motor boats to the Harbour Board. At a meeting of the Macandrew Bay Regatta Committee on January 14 the acting-commodore (Mr E. G. Moller) referred to the successful regatta held on December 26 last year, and expressed his thanks to all those members of the various committees, in addition to the various officials, for the excellent work carried out. The committee’s thanks were also due to the ladies for their willing help, and the residents generally for their assistance. The secretary came in for a special word of praise for the manner in which he had carried out his many duties. The treasurer’s financial report showed a credit balance of over £3O from the regatta, which was considered by members to be highly satisfactory. It was resolved that a donation of £5 be made to the North-East Harbour Boating Club for the use of its shed, and that the secretary and treasurer be voted a small honorarium for their services.

ST. LEONARD'S REGATTA. Arrangements in connection with the regatta to be held at St. Leonards on Saturday, February 4, are well advanced, and yacht crews, motor boat owners, and rowing men will all be catered for. The committee has decided to include a race for tpced boats, which should prove an additional attraction. The course for all events will be two miles, once round, but the judges will have power to alter the course or starting time for my event for the safe navigation of the Victoria Channel. Races for children will be held in the school ground. The principal prize to be awarded to the winner of the all-comers’ yacht race will be the Dawson Cup, presented by Mr Dawson, of St. Leonards. The winning skipper will also be presented with a miniature of the cup, which will be competed for annually. The cup, which is a handsome trophy, is now on view at the Sports Depot. An energetic committee has been appointed to control the regatta, and experienced officials will control the races. SANDERS CUP CONTEST. In a letter received by Mr D. Paterson, from Mr T. Bragg, of the Stewart Island Yacht Club, he states that the first race for the Sanders Cup will be sailed on Friday, February 17. It was reported previously that the contest would commence on February 15. The second race will bo sailed on Saturday, February 18, and the contest will extend to the following week. The conference of Dominion delegates will be held on Thursday evening, February 16. Air Bragg also intimates that Miirihiku II will probably be selected to represent Southland in the contest. Sereval Otago launch owners intend to make the trip to Stewart Island with their boats. Among the voyagers will be Air R Carclno in the launch Ripple, arm Messrs J. Potter and W. Webber, in the launch Petrel. . . , , , In the first trial sailed at Auckland on the afternoon of January 17, Rona was in charge of A. E. Matthews, while R. Lidcard sailed Avalon, A. H. M dkinson Queen March, anfi W. J. Potter piloted Joan. Rona beat, Avalon bv ssec. Avalon won the second trial sailed on the evening ot January 19, and the third trial sailed last Monday evening. Avalon has been selected to represent Auckland, and it will be her third attempt to win the tropny. She icprosented Auckland at the contest sailed at Dunedin in February, 1926, ana represented Hawke’s Bay in the Lyttelton contest last year. J. Patrick will probably be in charge of Avalon at Stewart Island Avalon is still french polished, but her decking is painted m buff, with thin stripes of black. CORNWELL CUP CONTEST. The Cornwell Cup contest, sailed at Auckland last week, will be remembered by Otago boating men as the greatest farce ever recorded in the yacht racing history of the Dominion. It is to be hoped that if the contest is to survive it will be conducted on much more sane and satisfactory lines than the one just concluded. To the experienced eye of practical men who witnessed the contest t appeared that Otago was the best crew, as they secured four firsts on end,_ each time in a different boat, so that their success cannot be put down to the fact that they sailed in the fastest boat, as the other crews all had their turn, and were beaten. Then came the debacle. At the conclu sion of the fifth race, which gave Otago it- third win, and consequently the Cornwell Cup. it was announced that, as Canterbury had fouled Auckland, and spoilt Auckland's chances, the -ace was to be resailed. with only Otago and Auckland to compete. This last step alone was most, unfair to the other crews. Apparently the entire Sailing Committee of the contest decided on this move, hut it is hard to imagine that a number >f supposedly experienced yacht racing met would so far neglect the basic rules of racing as to make such a decision-a decision which wa s further complicated by later events in the contest. Taking all the circumstances into account the emphatic protest of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association is fully justified as the committee - decision represents a direct breach of the recognise rules of yacht racing throughout the Yesterday “Rudder” received a telegram from a loading and ecc.gnised yachting authority in Auckland which < no strcnglv dissents from the decision ai lived at by the Sailing Committee in what is now known as the famous fifth race. He declares that the accident to (he Auckland boat was purely a port and starboard tack collision, the penalty for which is disqualification of the offending boat. He says it was of course, hard luck for Auckland, but it was only the luck of the game. Ino Otago crew” led round every mark and was not concerned with the faults of other competitors. The Auckland Sun states that through no fault of their own. H. Riddell and G. rhuvchill. Otago's crew, were denied the i ■ Miv in the fifth ra-e on January 18, iI though they were the first crew to win

three races as required in the conditions of the contest. During the progress of the fifth race Canterbury collided with the Auckland boat, which was then holding second position. The Otago boat was then well in the lead of the Canterbury and Auckland crews. The Auckland boys subsequently applied for a resail on the ground's that they had to, retire owing to damage caused by Canterbury when they had a reasonable chance of winning. After an inquiry the Sailing Committee ordered the race to be sailed again between Otago and Auckland. It was decided that the collision had a detrimental effect on the Auckland boat's gear, and spoiled her chances of carrying on in the race.