YACHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 22816, 27 February 1936, Page 4

YACHTING

By Roddejb,

FIXTURES March 7.—Ravensbourne Regatta. March 14.—Ravensbourne Club: Ross Cup (local boats only). .„ j March 21— Vauxhall Club: Wakefield Cup, Jell Memorial Shield, Vauxhall Cup (members only). April 4.—Ravensbourne Club: Cuthbort Cup (open to all clubs). ■ : April 11.—Broad Bay Club—XacJit and motor boat races (open to all clubs). April 18.—North-East Harbour Club: All-comers' yacht and motor boat races. OTAGO YACHT CLUB Unfavourable weather conditions prevailed for the cruising races held by the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Club on Sunday last, but nevertheless 11 yachts and five launches came to the starting line. The race for yachts resulted in a win for Sunbeam, with Yvonne second and Starlight third. This contest, unfortunately, was robbed of considerable interest owing to the fact that three craft went aground because of the exceptionally low tide. In the race for motor* boats Rover came first, with Kelvin second. .'

Tucana was involved in a curious acciden on Saturday while travelling to the St. Leonards regatta. She was lying tuna over to the breeze, and her crew failed to notice a pile which Was hidden by her sails. The mast struck the pie, breaking off about eight feet above the deck and also at the very base. Fortunately, the hull of the craft was not damaged apart from one or two deck planks close to the base of the mast, but had any of the jagged pieces of timber fallen on any of the crew there might easily have been a more serious aspect to the incident. The sails were undamaged, end the members of the crew were able to step the short piece of mast, and, using a jib, managed to get their charge back to the boat harbour. A sub-committee has been set up to go into the question of repairs to.the caretaker's house, the covering of portions of the dance floor of the clubhouse, as well as alterations to the boat yard and the dinghy grid. The committee and . club members In general regret deeply the departure of their club captain, Mr R. Melville, who baa always been a popular and energetic member. Mr A. Gillespie hag been appointed in his place, while Mr W. Gourlick has been chosen as the club's delegate to the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association.

The club desires to offer its thanks to the caretaker and Mr G. Geddes for their work in pumping out various craft in the boat harbour during the recent heavy rains.

NORTH-EAST HARBOUR CLUB Members of the North-East Harbour clubs were Very busy last week. On Thursday evening a race was held for local launches, four boats starting in the pouring rain. In a good finish Jewel beat Ngairie by only a few yards. The club slipway has been repaired and is now in excellent condition for the winter months. Three of the club's boats were present tit the St. Leonards regatta last Satur ; day afternoon, and a fourth would have been there but for engine trouble. On Saturday evening the clubs held a Hmoke concert for the purpose of bidding farewell to the immediate past president (Mr Jenkins), who has always taken a keen interest in matters concerning the sport of yachting, besides being- of very practical assistance when any work was to be done at the clubhouse. The Ladies' Committee also held a function in order suitably to recognise the services rendered by Mrs Jenkins. A small presentation was made to her during the evening. ...'. On Sunday, when, apart from the sudden thunderstorm, the weather was ideal for. yachting, several boats paid a visit to the club waters. Among them were the yachts Eileen, Dawn, Yvonne. Kathleen, Rio Rita, and Starlight, and the launches Nell. Kelvin, Huana, Rover, Sadie K., and Waitere. The_ launch Marata was out cruising during the afternoon, and the Te Tiki was off her moorings all day. . . A ladies' day will be held on Sunday, and will take the form of a picnic to the Fish Hatcheries. The .launches will leave for their destination at about 10 o'clock in the morning. RAVENSBOURNE ANNUAL " REGATTA The Ravensbourne regatta, to be held thi s year-on March 7, promises to be one of the most successful for some time. The committee has all arrangements well in hand and can promise a good afternoon's sport. The programme of yacht and motor boat races caters for all kinds of boats. '■ "■ ' .'r The programme is as follows: 3 p.m.—Yachts (I3ft and unden).. -. 3.15 p.m.—Yachts (18ft and over 13ft). 3.30 p.m.—All-comers' Yacht Race (over 18ft). 4 -'.. . 3.45 p.m.—Motor boats (8 m.p.h. and under). _ , . 4.15 p.m.—Motor boats (over 8 m.p.h.). ■ These races last year drew the record number of 60 starters. Entries for these events close with all club secretaries or with N. "W.Lamond, the secretary of the Regatta Committee. Ravensbourne. on Saturday next. The regatta will be concluded with a dance.at night, at which all trophies won will be presented. RAVENSBOURNE BOATING CLUB Irex was the only club boat to be placed at St. Leonards last week. Her crew are to be congratulated on the way they sailed their craft throughout the rape, taking full advantage of the tide and handling their spinnaker excellently when off the wind. ; \ . • A new cup has been presented to tne club by the president of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association (Mr E. T. Moller), and it will be sailed for for the first time next season. It is the desjre of the club that the cup shall be called the H. E. Moller Memorial Cup. to commemorate the name of one of its foundation members, who took the keenest of interest in all its affairs from the first day of its existence in 1897 until, his death a short time ago. Mr H. E. Moller held the office of commodore of the Ravensbourne Boating Club for the record time of 21 years, and during this period he was the guiding hand that built the club into the strong and financially sound institution it is to-day. It is the intention of the donor that this cup shall be won outright each year. The race for which this cup shall be sailed. has not been decided on as yet, but will be set down at an early date in the new season. INVERCARGILL REGATTA Excellent sailing and rowing races were witnessed on Saturday afternoon, when the Invercargill Boating Club held its annual regatta on the estuary. Conditions were ideal, and a large crowd of spectators watched the various events with interest. It was agreed by all hands that the fixture was easily the beet regatta yet staged by the club. The presence of boats from other centres (says the Southland limes) added to the interest of the races. Foamj the champion Fortrose boat, was sailing, while Ripple and Idle Along, also from Fortrose. competed in the two contests held. Voreria, ihe smart 14-footer built at Bluff last vear. was in attendance and was capablv handled by her skipper, J. Shannon. She competed at the banders Cup trials held in Bluff in January, when she gave an outstanding performance. Colleen, the Invercargill boat, was first past the iudee in the No. 1 handicap race, while Ripple was awarded first prize in the second contest. Both races were sailed in a fair easterly breeze and some good times were registered. A good number of launches faced the starter in the power boat race. A. Tinnock in Islander was first home. He eailed a well-judged race and deserved his victory. Marangi was second. ■ During the afternoon the Invercargill Sea Scouts staged a dinghy race. The boys, who meet each week on the waterfront for instruction, handled their boats well and revealed a sound knowledge of small-craft sailing. The troop has been in existence for some considerable time, and has now a bis membership. At present Mr T. H. Jenkin, of the Southland Technical College, is in charge ot the boys. NOTES The Port Chalmers Yacht Club's race, which was to have been held next Saturday. lias been postponed to a date to be fixed by the committee.

The Vauxhall Club has a good programme drawn up for the next week-end On Saturday evening; a smoke concert will be held :in. the club shed. It is hoped and >xpected that yacht and motor-boat men from every club in the harbour wiii be present. On Sunday afternoon a yacht race for all comers will be held over the Vauxhall Club course. Tea will be served at the conclusion of the race. . , The secretary of the Jsorth-Last Harbour Boating Club, has received a letter from Captain R. A. J. English, of the Byrd Antarctic Expedition, extending "warmest greetings and sincerest salutations." The interesting point about the letter is that it .was written aboard the Bear of Oakland on January 30, 1930, when the ship was at Little America, "in the frozen desolation at the South Polar Continent," but it has only now come to hand. This delay was caused owing to a disruption of the mail service when one. of the postal officials with the expedition suffered a nervous breakdown. The communication will doubtless be treasured by the North-East Harbour Club.