YACHTING AND MOTOR BOATING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 21985, 21 June 1933, Page 9

YACHTING AND MOTOR BOATING

MEETING OF ASSOCIATION A meeting of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association was held last evening in Mr J. H. A. M'Keefry’s board room, the president (Mr W. O.' Martin) in the chair. Before commencing the business, the chairman extended a welcome to Mr W. Webber, who was taking the place of Mr H. N. Treurn as the Ravensbourue Boating Club’s delegate on the association. FINANCE. V The secretary reported that the 1 association had a credit balance of £57 2s 7d. —The chairman remarked that this was very satisfactory, and it was decided, on bis suggestion, that some Recognition should be made of the services of the secretary (Mr A. Burt), to whom an honorarium, of £lO 10s was granted. “L” CLASS CONTEST. The rules and conditions governing the 12ft 6in L class championship contests were discussed at some length, and it was decided that the association’s delegate on the New Zealand Council should bring forward a motion to have the rule covering boats to be used altered so as to allow for each challenging port supplying its own boats and sails, provided that a port might bo supplied with a borrowed boat and sails with the unanimous consent of the council, and that the council should be asked to have this matter decided by postal note. PLANS OF 14-FOOTERS. In accordance with , a request from a previous meeting, _ Air C. Smith submitted a report in amplification of plans of the X class 14-footcrs approved by the New Zealand Council. The suggestions put forward by Mr Smith called, inter alia, for the following specifications:—Lengtli overall, 14ft; beam, sft 9in; depth amidships, Ift 9in, all planking to be tile best of kauri unless otherwise specified, and all other timbers to be of suitable hardwood, with spars of Oregon; all sails made after the next contest to be of New Zealand manufacture.—Mr Smith was thanked for bis report, which was approved, and it was decided to forward a copy of the specifications to the New Zealand Council as the association’s recommendation. SPEEDBOAT CHAMPIONSHIP. The chairman of the New Zealand Council' (Mr G. R. Curtis) wrote stating that the Canterbury Association had decided to ask the council to promote a New Zealand Speedboat Championship for the 1933-1934 season. The writer commended the idea to the Otago Association, and forwarded suggestions regarding rules for the proposed contest, which covered challenges, the power of boats, number of' boats from each association, the number of races in each contest, and the length and shape of the course. He suggested that the first contest should be held at Lyttelton in conjunction with the New Zealand 14ft X Class Championship. —The chairman stated that a meeting of local motor boating enthusiasts had considered the proposals and the rules, and with the exception of one or two minor details,' had approved of them. —Mr A. Burt suggested that the rules should provide for ail competing boats being fitted with clutches, and for all crews wearing approved lifebelts. He • also thought that crews should consist of not fewer than two members, and that, at the start competing boats should be marshalled into line before being despatched by the starter. —It was decided to support the Canterbury Association’s proposals, subject to the suggestions submitted by Mr Burt being incorporated in the rules. ' A NEW DESIGN. On behalf of the New Zealand Council, Mr G. R. Curtis forwarded a design and specifications for an 18ft Y-bottom class boat, suggested by Mr G. G. Andrews, of Christchurch, following the announcement by the council that suggestions from yachtsmen and designers would be welcomed. The writer suggested that the association should carefully consider those designs with the object of evolving the most suitable type of boat for New Zealand waters, taking into consideration general usefulness aud cheapness of construction. The question whether the new class should be one-design or restricted should also be considered. — Messrs C. Smith, B. 11. Nees, and G. A. Wiseman were appointed an Advisory Committtee to consider the matter fully and report to the association. It was decided to recommend the committee to give special attention to the cost of building, so that this might bo kept within the means of amateur builder's.