YACHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22212, 15 March 1934, Page 5

YACHTING

: , : ;';';. By^RuDpra., ; v ' FIXTURES • ; ' March 17.—^North-East'■ Harbour and ' Vauxhall Cluh's. combjried races at ■...." Vauxhall; ■ Ravensbourne Club's Ross ■- ''Ciip Race.' '.>•■'■■ -.:;••'• ;, March/ 24;—Bowie Cup i Race (Ravens- ■'■•; bourne';Club). - - -, ■■■ ':i:<- ;';■■■ April 2 (Easter Monday) .-rPortobello -regatta;; •• ;':». ";v-."-•:; '<'[■■■ / ■" - '' .r- FASTNET 'CUP RACE, ; sOf late years British yachts have been badly beaten by the American competitors in the, rate for the Fastnet Cup, arid it is satisfactory to learn (says a writer in : a Jboridon paper); that the rating rule arid the scale,-of. time-allowances are to be revised by the Royal Ocean Racing Club with a view, to giving the type, of craft .favoured-by British yachtsmen a better;' charice of. success: The American yachts that have competed in this event recently are of a: type produced specially for ocean, racing, and, if, not. actually designed * under the Royal. Ocean Racing Club rule, fit it so well that they have sometimes received large ances from old British crui6irig craft of Obsolete type. In; the v. race sailed last season, for instance", the winner. Dorade, received more than eight hours from Ilex, a 34-year-old cruiser of much the same size. Tn such-circumstanced" the result of a race is a foregone conclusion, and British entries for the Fastnet Cup have dwindled away, until last year, there were only three. v , ' ' , '. «. It is obvious that if the popularity ot this great ocean race is to be restored, something must, be'done to place it on a more satisfactory basis. The Royal Ocean Racing Club has, therefore, decided to revise the rating rule v with a-view to giving vessels/of the cruising type a better chance. To accomplish this it has been suggested that; the depth measurements shall be taken at two stations, so as to give vessels with a deep forefoot and heavy displacement a more generous timeallowance. ■■ ~ ■■'■'•,.'. ;' ; .■'.. • ~ The scale of time-allowances also, calls reform. v Hitherto the Royal ..Ocean Racing Club has used -the Yacht'; Racing Association's Kale which, however suitable it : may be for racing oyer short regatta courses, is certainly notsofor events sailed over wide tracts of open .sqa., Not only does; it favour the, smaller yachts unduly, but the rig allowance of 10 per cent, granted to schooners is much too generous. The concession, is made.-to schooners partly because vessels of that rig ; are less weatherly than single-masted craft, and partly -because they are not nearly so quick in stays.. But the weatherlinesa of' the schooner has been greatly improved of late-years by the introduction of vangs on the fore gaffi and in ocean racing the yachta make such long boards that the loss of time in-going about is of very little importance.' in an ocean race there is,usually much less wind, ward work than* in one over a triangular regatta course, and it is open to question whether a schooner, should receive any Hit allowance at all 4n such events. "■)>.; '. Another:feature that has tended to detract from the popularity of ocean races is that of employing courses that start and finish-at the.same port; -There is a glamour abbut Agoing foreign" which makes & strong appeal to, the average yachtsman, and it is thought that if eilch races finished at some port abroad they would be more attractive, as competitors would be able to enjoy a cruise in; foreign waters before returning home. It is evident that the Royal Ocean Racing' Cluby Committee has not, overlooked this point,, for in the programme provisionally drawn up for/.tjie ebmmg season Several races, have been finish 'abroad.-,.."' <. : '"--'-~'' .:"." '■■' 'rV-.. The next Fastnet Cup race, being a .biennial event, will be;beld;in 1935 v , 1'. .; ,NEW- DESIGN .4AUNCH \: :i\ '.'..'During the latter part of 'the past season a well-known English-yachtsman, Mr H.Hollingswbrth; conceived the idea ot building a 'launch of somewhat unusual design/ The craft was to have a reasonable, carrying' -capacity,-'.and-yet ;at the speed of 12 m.p.h, would run as near as possible to- w'asbles? so as tp inconveniother river users to-the least possible "degree, but at *the>same time; the iaunch"<wa9 to befcapable of. a^speed of-20 mShi, although atrthis;,l,at,ter.;a,,reaso.nable, anwtunt of wash would be allowed■:;;, it ws|s main idea of the owner, however, ,tP minimise the amount of'.wash., ' .■■'. - Tbis all-British launch has'now beep completed. -Designed by the well-known naval architect; James-.'. A. I Smith, the launch has a length' pf 33 feet; beam of six; feel '■ six inches, a- chine boat with ff. Vee" sections, slightly hollowed forward with .a tunnel stern, .The "profile was to Mr Hollingswortb's ideas, and shows a straight sheer line, the decks with Very little eariiber,,and; ,in 'fact, almost, flat. Tne launch is an open one With the engine placed approximately amidships, steering gear to port,:with, a permanent seat for the owner and an open well. T The machinery is by Brooke Marine Motors, 'Ltd.,:of Lowestoft; and consists of a 100 h.p. six-cylinder Brooke motor with dynamo' and electric, starting.; This operates, direot 'A on v a: bronze tailshaft through a self-contained reverse gear and integral part-of. the motor, and drives a 17J inch three-bladed gunnie.tal propeller. The controls-f6r the engine are, operated through the'ce'ntre'of. the steering.column, but "in addition, a foot accelerator is fitted.-" ; -\\i, <£■'&- •■ .\i .,.-' -. 'This motor, which it is understood,is used extensively by the British Air Force, is- capable Of ■•■ rpnning" very; slowly. oyer long pei'iodsj and in consequence develops low powers, at the Jsame time capable of -quick' acceleration to 'its full power, which is developed ,'at 20Q0 r.p.m. The exhaust; is: completely water eoOled, the'first portion of the exhaiustpipe being water-jacketed, after which '.water,is injected' into the pipein 'series with which is fitted an all-metaloahd , very' efficient Vortex silencer, y , ; , . ; 'ln connection'with the machinery equipment, the beautifully finished'instrument panel is worthy of mention, provided with all necessary /instruments, lincruding, revolution - counter, clock,; electric - ; cigar lighter, oil, air, and electrical gauges, and the necessary switches. In. the top of this a concealed blind isfitted l whicn be utilised to protectthe board from / the weather*- - v- S-- '-..;'■■'■'':/' :: ""f' : ?.-'s'!','- ■

ngrth-eAst harbour cojb 'For the combined -club 'races, to be held on the Vauxhall Club's course on Saturday afternoon the entries from the North- 1 East Harbour Club are:—Yachts: Mm* now, Vera. Iris,' and R.N.V;R, cutter. Motor boats: Jewel,- Waitiri," Sylvia, Bbnriy Mary. The launch Marewa was not entered as she will join a picnic party from Broad Bay to the E;aik.^ i \ It is understood that' the Vauhall Club will followtbe example set by the NorthEast Harbour Club by providing retreshmenta for" the competing crews and visitors at the combined races on Saturday afternoon. This courtesy will be greatly appreciated by the young Crews. f . The races to be decided on Saturday will be the Elliot Cup (small yachts), Allcomers' Yachts, arid Motor Briate. PORTOBELLO REGATTA. All the arrangement* for the regatta to be held at Portobello on Easter Monday are well in hand. There is a possibility that an outboard boat from the Aptarctic ship Jacob Ruppert, iiv charge of Creigh, will be entered for the race between fast craft. Should the boat be entered Mr Creigh will give an exhibition of hurdle jumping; with his craft.'. . .-.■■; :