YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 20612, 10 January 1929, Page 4

YACHTING.

By Rxjddep, FIXTURES.

January 12.^—Otago Yacht Club races; . BaVensbburne Club races. January 19.—North-East Harbour Club races. ; January’ Port Chalmers regatta; .North-East. Harbour Club races. February 9.—Otago Yacht Club (Moffatt Cup rice). February 161—North-East Harbour Club [races.- j r February; 23.—St. Leonards Regatta; Otago; Yacht Club races. March 23.—Otago Yacht Club (harbour ■race).,-..;'.

BANDERS- CUP CONTEST.—AKAROA. February-ioH,- first race; February IS, ‘aecpndirhce; FebruaryUO, third race.

On Saturday afternoon the Otago Yacht Club has ,a. fairly large programme to put through'; This includes a race for 12ft •Oin and under yachts, a general handicap for ; larger iytchtß, and two motor boat races. The-bourse for tire latter widl be .twice round,-’ the full distance being four .-miles. The! i piles, marking the course - are black ones, numbers 20 to 37. It is hopedit6:have’tbe turning marks flagged for Saturday’s races. : Two.; heats ' for the Paterson Cup ;for :ohtboaVd;!mptor boats of not more than 20 ;cubic ihehea engine capacity will also be ,'dfecmbd,'} The , RaV’eiasbpßrhe Boating Club will hold !its, secOnd ,fierjes qf races on Saturday aftern6otii In the general handicap event for yachts the probable starters will be Eileeh (skimmer),-May, Minnow, Kia Ora (skimmer), Eileen (14-footer), and Winifred. The competitors in the motor boat race will include Islay, Eclipse, Maureen and Ripple! - -.. . A number 'of boats -are receiving attention at the boat harbour. The launch Rsei is at present on the Otago Yacht gjub s slip haying a new stern bearing fitted. Ness is .also in the slip receiving a coat of paint. The launch Thistle was out for a spin last week. This handy little boat is rarely seen underway nowadays. _ Ripple came to the Upper Harbour last Sunday morning. She seemed to be moving very well.

Mothers have experienced some difficulty in Retting the speed boat Mystery to run satisfactorily of late. Mr W., Sell informed “ Rudder ” this Week that the reason for Mystery’s non* appearance in the speed-boat race at the liroad Bay regatta was due to the interior quality of the petrol supplied. This defect has since been remedied, and Mystery s engine is now in good running

~ The “cj.t big aquatic display to claim tlie attention of boating men ■will be the Fort Chalmers regatta, which will be held on the Lower Harbour on Saturday, January 26. An attractive programme of 16 events has been arranged, and liberal prize money allotted. The programme ineludes the following events:—Sailing dinghies (12ft 6in and under)-, yachts (18ft and under)) yachts (all-comers), fishermen’s motor boat race, motor boats (seven miles per hour and under), motor boats (seven to ■ nine miles per hour), motor boats (nine to 15,miles per hour), and speed boats (including outboard motor boats rated at 15 miles and over per hour). Eight rowing races also figure bn the programme. The motor boats will be started under the Mark Foy system.

CORNWELL CUP CHALLENGE. Many • inquiries have been made by those interested in boating as to what will be the next move by the North-East Harbour Club in connection with the challenge forwarded to Auckland for the Cornwell Cup contest. Officials pf the club are not inclined to impart any information on the subject when questioned. When discussing the matter .with a prominent member of the .club last week, ■ Rudder ” could only form the conclusion that there is a great deal of dissatisfaction amongst a majority of club members over the persistent attitude taken; up by the■ committee in connection with the challenge. It was hinted that if. the dub, or the committee of the club, did hot accede to the association’s request to withdraw the challenge, a large number of the present members would resign. Since then rumours have been circulated to the effect that a move will shortly be made to form a new boating club at Macandrew Bay, and the consensus of opinion of boating men would appear to lend support to the statement. It is understood that the names of two members of the North-East Harbour Club have been mentioned as possible delegates to, the conference to be held at. Lyttelton prior to the contest. Two, 'trial races were'held on ( Tuesday evening, and the club’s action in conducting these has exerted much adverse comment, BROAD BAY REGATTA. The Broad Bay Regatta was one of the most successful and most attractive held on Otago Harbour for some time past. Many people expressed the opinion that the committee did not display much judgment when it decided to postpone the regatta from New Year’s Day to January 2, but as things ■turned out, the controlling officials made a very wise decision. On NewYear’s morning the weather was most unfavourable, rain falling until after 11 a.m., with little prospect of a break in the heavy clouds. Very few people and very few boats put in an appearance, and that' was discouraging. The weather on January 2 was almost perfect—bright sunshine and a light south-east breeze. The beaches, wharf, and surrounding hillsides wore soon dotted with several hundred spectators, and gazing round on the animated scene, the regatta officials had every reason to be pleased. The scene on the water was most spectacular, as yachts, motor boats, and outboarders were there in large numbers. The big fleet indicated that almost every boat in commission in the harbour was present. The races were keenly contested, and many close finishes were recorded, especially in the motor boat events. In one power boat race only two seconds separated the first and second boats when they crossed the line, and in another such event the win-' ning boat won by the narrow margin of eight seconds. Such excellent handicapping gave satisfaction to the competitors, and at-the same time provided the spectators with some attractive racing. The haudicappers for all the motor boat events (Messrs P. Drummond, J. Hudson; and T. Brookes) are to be commended for the capable manner in which they carried out their work. -The handicapping of yachts was left entirely in the hands of Mr A. D. Asher, and here again the results were excellent. A pleasing feature was-the large number of boats that started in each race. Yery few failed to come to the starting line, and this fact must have been very satisfactory to the officials. A sight seldom seen on this harbour was witnessed when a large fleet came to the line for the yacht' race (18 feet and under). Eleven boats were sent away at gunfire, and they made an attractive picture as the majority sailed over the line in close company. Another spectacular array of white wings was provided when six of tin- eight starters in the race for the large yachtc crossed the line in very close company. The big stretch of canvas carried by each boat provided a spectacle that could not fail to bring back memories of old-time yachting days among th e veteran boating men present. The fact that every boat entered for this race was a competitor is a clear indication that the annual Broad Bay water display is very popular with boat owners and that the yachting spirit still holds a high place among the young men following the sport.