YACHTING.

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21264, 19 February 1931, Page 4

YACHTING.

By Rudder. FIXTURES. February 21. —Ravensbourne regatta. February 28. —St. Leonards regatta. March 28. —Port Chalmers Club races. The fine weather last weekend attracted practically every owner arid yachtsman to the water. At one time no fewer than 41 motor boats and yachts were seen cruising about the Upper Harbour, while others visited the various bays and the Lower Harbour. Commodore C. W. Sundstrum conveyed a large party in his launch Thetis on a cruise outside the Heads on Sunday. The Portobello Regatta Committee will hold a meeting next Monday evening to make arrangements for this year’s regatta, which will be held at Lower Portobello, The aquatic writer for the Southland Times states that the outboard motor boat Miss Oreti capped her performances with a great exhibition at the Invercargill Boating Club’s regatta, held on the evening of February 2. Handicapped 105 seconds behind the limit boat, Aloha, Miss Oreti went away with a great burst of speed which, maintained for three laps, enabled her to get the measure of her slower opponents. Taking the lead at the beginning of the fifth and last lap, Miss Oreti held her own to win comfortably by about four lengths from Gutty Sark, registering the remarkable time of. llmin 17sec for a course of nearer six than five miles.

The Wellington Sanders Cup challenger Betty won the Interclub Cup with comparative ease at Wellington on February 7. What would have happened if the Wellesley II had not met with spinnaker trouble at Coromandel on the first round it is hard to say, but it is very probable that the Betty, since she finished nearly four minutes ahead of the Wellesley, would have been able to beat her in any case. A feature of the race was the performance of the Idono, which did particularly well on the wind, and finished only Imin 54sec behind Betty in second place. It was generally expected that the Royal Port Nicholson Yacht Club would lose the cup in view of the strong challenge entered by the Evans Bay Club, and the Betty’s win occasioned little surprise. At a recent meeting of the, Auckland Anniversary Regatta'Committee, Captain William Ross was named by the chairman, Mr A. Braund, as being easily the oldest member of the committee. After admitting that he had been connected with the regatta for oyer 60 years, Captain Ross stated that he had visited many parts, and had viewed many fine regattas. Auckland boats could not be compared for' size or value with the big boats at Cowes or New York, but he ventured to say that in no port in the world was so much interest taken in the sport of yacht racing than was shown by the skippers and crews of Auckland’s small boats.

twenty outboard speed craft of various kinds gathered in the Panmure Basin (Auckland) on the afternoon of January 31 for the programme of eight events, which were decided under the auspices of the outboard division of the New Zealand Power Boat Association. A fairly stiff breeze, while not interfering with the racing, caused an unusual amount of spray to fly, and this created temporary engine trouble in a number of the races. Pug created the greatest sensation of the day, when, in attempting to-lower., the-lap record of 12| seconds, she stood on end twice in succession, but, fortunately for her driver, Mr W. F. Neal, fell right side up. In the fifth event Blue Bird capsized when taking. a mark at too great a speed, and was put out of action. Miss Clevedon, jun., driven by Mr T. M, Roberts, of Clevedon, after winning the first event, had to retire from further racing owing to an injury to-her bottom planks. Holdfast made some spectacular runs during the day, and, while warming up for one race, struck Miss Wilma a f lancing blow while travelling at speed, liss Wilma had to be quickly hauled on to the starting pontoon to prevent , her sinking. Mr J. B. Stewart, driver ,of Holdfast, was presented with the golden pennant at the conclusion of the racing.

ravensbourne regatta. All arrangements have been completed for the annual regatta to be held at Ravensbourne on Saturday afternoon, and there is every, indication that the regatta will be as successful as those of past years. It is probable that some of . the Sanders Cup contestants will compete in the yacht races. The entries received, for the principal events are as follows: —Yachts (12ft Sin and under), 8; yachts (18ft and under), 11; yachts (all-comers), IQ; motor boats (eight miles per hour and under), 12; motor boats (over eight miles per hour), 8; speed boats, 5; outboard motor boats, 4; C. C. Wakefield Cup heat, 6. In the rowing section four crews have entered for the Youths’ Fours and four crews for the Maiden Fours. The Otago Rowing Club crews will compete for the Ravensbourne Salt Water Baths Cup. A function will be held on Saturday evening, when the prizes won during the day will be presented by Mr H. E. Moller. The committee has worked hard to make the regatta a success. It has catered well for the boating men of the harbour.

LAST SATURDAY’S RACES. An inspiring sight was witnessed on the Upper Harbour last Saturday afternoon, when no fewer than 16 yachts of all sizes and about a dozen motor boats appeared to take part in the North-East Harbour Club’s races. There was a full-sail breeze from the south-east, which kept the yacht crews on the alert. Yacht after yacht set off down the harbour with all canvas set, the finishing line being opposite the boatshed at Macandrew Bay. Splendid seamanship and unfailing resourcefulness kept most of the boats on a ■ straight course. Past the various bays and wellknown marks they went, flying down the eastern side of the harbour with a quarterly wind and sheets slackened and spinnakers ballooning. It is such sights that inspire the young men and bring the old hands back to the water again. MARK FOY SYSTEM. While some yachtsmen favour the Mark Foy system of starting yacht races, there are others who are opposed to it. It is stated that several skippers who sailed the large yachts at the Port Chalmers regatta on February 7 were not in favour of the system. When the matter was mentioned to an official of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, he stated that while the Mark Foy system was of great advantage for motor boat racing, it was not suitable for yacht racing, ns many circumstances had to be considered. The main objection was that the handicap times could not be computed until a short time before the commencement of a race, as ,the weather conditions had to be taken into account. He was of the opinion that when a large programme of events had to be decided in an afternoon, the officials had small chance of handicapping yachts under the Mark Foy system, especially when a yacht handicapper has to follow his occupation in the morning, and then hurry to the place where the races are to be held and assist to set the programme in motion. Another factor was the cutting out of the usual keen manoeuvring by competing yachts for the beat starting position. The official was of the opinion that all this keenness was lost when the Mark Foy system was used. Another factor was that the boats having a good time allowance had every opportunity to close up with the limit boats. The official also held the opinion that, in fairness to everyone, the sealed handicap system for yacht racing was the best, as every boat started under the same conditions. It was also considered that in a tideway the limit boat might start with the last of the tide' in her favour, and the scratch boat might have the tide against her, or vice versa. TAKAPUNA CLASS BOAT. The success of the recent Cornwell Cup contest at Auckland has demonstrated very strikingly the value of the Takapuua class boat in starting the younger yachtsmen off along the right lines. In this respect the Cornwell Cup contest is of more actual benefit to yachting generally than that for the Sanders Cup, although the latter is usually regarded as the more important fixture. The Takapuna boats have attracted a large number of boys

who otherwise would probably not have gone in for the sport. The boats are cheap to build, easy to handle, and capable of providing all the thrills and performance of the 14-footers. They can stand any amount of knocking about, and, in r short, fill the bill completely so far aa the younger generation, are concerned. Practically every club in and around Web lington now has its Takapunas, and it ' would, be gratifying to see the boys given I further encouragement to advance the class . by the provision of regular races and other means., • CORNWELL CUP CONTEST. The aquatic writer for the New Zealand Herald, in commenting on the crews that competed in the Cornwell Cup contest, held on the Waitemata in January, , says that a feature of the racing was the ■ good judgment displayed by the Auckland crew, E. Tabateau and V. Field. In the first race the_ Auckland crew secured the , weather position at the start, and getting the tide under its lee, took full advantage of it until the boat could practically lay the weather mark. This move really accounted for Auckland’s first win. The Otago, Lyttelton, and other crews jammed their boats, especially in the first round, In the second half the Lyttel- ;■ ton crew improved considerably by using the mainsheet as Well as the tiller. - The Otago crew, E. and J. Burt, winners of the second race, gave a splendid exhibition of small boat sailing and deserves every credit for its performance. Burt sailed his boat free and took every advantage of the puffs of wind as they came along. In this race the Auckland crew experienced a bad break on the leg up to the top mark and never recovered. The other crews showed a decided improvement on the first day’s sailing. Had the Otago skipper not jammed hia boat in the third race she probably would have won. In this race it was very hard to understand why all the challengers allowed the Auckland boat to sail her own course without paying any attention to her. Sailing, his boat very free and using his mainsheet at every possible moment, Tabateau drew well ahead of the others and when he broke tacks he was still in the lead. He sailed. the same course on each round, but strange to say none of the other skippers made any attempt to challenge the leader, all sailing a dif-, t; fcrent course to. that of the Auckland * boat, which had an easy win. In the_ first round the Lyttelton skipper was inclined to sail his boat too close to the wind, but'in the second round he made - a good recovery and finally finished second. The Lyttelton crew had now three -seconds to its credit. In the fourth and final race the .Auckland crew was too keen and was recalled at gunfire. By skilful handling, however, made up his lost time and passed his opponents-one by one until . he finally assumed the. lead, and once he •, ■ was in that position the issue was never in doubt after the first round had been completed. At the clubhouse the Wellington crew had an excellent opportunity of heading the Auckland boat, but came.' round too soon, and allowed the latter to get-away from it. After this incident 1 the Auckland crew increased its lead and ,"r by winning the race retained the cup for Auckland. The contest was well conducted and the Takapuna Boating Club is to be congratulated on carrying out all the ar- .- rangements in such an efficient, manner.,: