YACHTING

Otago Daily Times, Issue 23118, 18 February 1937, Page 5

YACHTING

By Rudder

FIXTURES February 20.—Port Chalmers Yacht. and Motor Boat Club. February 21.—Otago Yacht Cluo. February 27.—Ravensbourne Regatta. March 6.—Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club; Mussel Bay Aquatic Club; Ravensbourne Local Challenge Cup; March 13.—Broad Bay regatta. March 14.—Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club (Veterans' Race) March 20—Ravensbourne Boating Club (Cuthbert Cup). March 26.—Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club. March 27.—Broad Bay Boating Club, March 29. —North-East Harbour Boat ing Club.’ April 3.—Ravensbourne Boating Club. April 10.—Combined Otago Yacht Club and Vauxhal 1 Power Boat and Sailing Club. April 24.—North-East Harbour Boating Club. REGATTA ABANDONED Yachting in Otago has suffered severely this season as a result of the abnormally wet and cold weather, and with week-end after week-end passing with either heavy rain or cold southerly winds, it is little wonder that the spirits of enthusiasts have been dampened. Yachting is a sport which depends for a great deal of its popularity on sunny days, light breezes, and sparkling waters, and, although heavier weather provides excellent tests of sailing ability, it does not entice crews out on the water for pleasure’s sake. The committee of the South Island regatta, which was to have been held last Saturday at Port Chalmers, was particularly unfortunate regarding the weather, and its decision to abandon the regatta was the only one that could have been made in the circumstances. As a spectacle it would have been a disaster, for heavy showers and a cold southerly turned the course into an uninviting waste of dreary water. It was more unfortunate still, in that several outstanding attractions had been provided in the programme which would have made the regatta particularly interesting from the point of view of the spectator. The prospect of seeing in action Pelorus Jack, the winner of this year’s Masport Cup, would undoubtedly have attracted many people, oven although some interest would have been lost owing to the fact that Miss Otago was unfit to race against her. The programme of yachting and rowing events was also an excellent one, and gave promise of an interesting and exciting day’s racing. PRESIDENT’S REPORT Mr W. J. Bardsley, the president of the association, who attended the conference in Christchurch during the Sanders Cup contest as one of the delegates, has supplied a report, which he will present at the next meeting of the association. Besides reporting on the Sanders Cup contest, more particularly from the point of view of the Otago boat, Lynette, he makes the interesting statement that the council, unsolicited, offered to allow Otago to conduct the next cup series on this harbour, on condition, of course, that the other associations are agreeable. This offer, it need hardly be mentioned, would he accepted eagerly by the Otago Association, and there is no doubt that Ihe holding of the 1938 Sanders Cup races at Dunedin would prove of immense benefit to the sport in this part of the Dominion. The ultimate decision, one would expect, however, is in the hands of the Wellington Association, as this year’s winner of the cup, and whether it will be prepared to waive its right to the contest next year remains to be seen. It may be remembered, however, that Wellington was desirous of conducting the contest in 1940 on the occasion of the Centenary of New Zealand, and it may thus be prepared to let Otago have the contest next year, if it is allowed to conduct it in 1940. Mr Bardsley. in his report, states:— “ When the Wellington challenger Lavina could win five races out of seven at Lyttelton, losing another one by only a few seconds, there is not much room for two opinions as to her suitability as a representative for the Sanders Cup or of the ability of J. Coleman, her skipper, and his youthful crew. The winning of the coveted cup is still a goal to be aimed at by boating enthusiasts in Otago. “The council has, of its own free will, offered Otago the opportunity of conducting the competition next season. This offer the association can consider later, if the proposal meets with the approval of the other associations, and if this would be an incentive to greater interest the acceptance by the Otago Association would seem desirable. “ The arrangements in connection with the various races were excellent and everything went off with clocklike precision., Mr W. H. Beanland, as secretary of the Canterbury Association and chairman of the council, fully merited the congratulations that were freely extended to his association and himself personally. The civic welcome to the delegates and crews and the arrangements for their entertainment were marked with genuine earnestness. “ Naturally we would have liked to see our boat occupying the winning position, but this we were denied. Admittedly, we have reason to be disappointed, but who has more reason to be disappointed than Pettit himself? He had put a great deal of time, money, and thought into his craft, and was, naturally, hopeful of success. I have no hesitation in saying, however, that Pettit and his crew have nothing to be ashamed of in the manner in which they handled Lynette. The sailing conditions were varied, and, with the weather, could be described as almost ideal.” CHAMPION SPEED-BOAT Speed-boat racing enthusiasts were, after all, given an opportunity of seeing the Masport Cup winner, Pelorus Jack, in action over the week-end, after it had appeared that her long journey from Picton had been in vain. In the contests for the Sir Henry Segrave Cup and the Sell Memorial Shield she showed that she is one of the fastest speed-boats ever seen on the Otago Harbour. Only Miss Otago could have provided her with anything like a stern contest, and she, unfortunately. is now dismantled after her accident in the Masport Cup Race. Miss Victory was at least 20 miles an hour slower than the New Zealand champion, and although she was given a good start in both races, it was obvious that she was not in the same class as Pelorus Jack, which cut through the choppy seas nearly twice as fast as her rival. Miss Victory passed the winning post first in the race for the Segrave Cup. but the Picton craft, took the trophy, which Is for the boat registering the fastest time. In the contest for the Sell Shield, Pelorus Jack withdrew after covering half the 15-mile course, as it was not thought advisable to risk (he boat in the chonpy water. Enough was seen of the powerful speed-boat, however, to show that her victory in the Masnort Cup was not a flash in the pan. Her tapered bow and clean-cut lines give a minimum of resistance' to the water, and although she was obviously not full out at any part of the races, it can plainly be seen that she is capable of bursts of speed that would leave most other boats of her Ivpe in New Zealand well in the rear. Her engine is beautifully tuned and functions perfectly, and. in addition, her crew is. a capable one that knows her well, the . result being that the maximum can be got out of her with the minimum of risk of breakdowns. LYNETTE’S CONSTRUCTION Reviewing the 1937 Sanders Cup contest, “ Spinnaker,” in the Wellington Dominion, makes some interesting remarks concerning the boats engaged in the races, and his comments on the Otago challenger will probably come as a surprise to her owner and those who have seen her on the harbour. From the manner in which he writes it is easy to see that “ Spinnaker ” was present at Lyttelton and that his remarks are the result of personal observations of the different craft. Concerning Lynette. he states; Otago’s representative is also a new boat, although she is not the one originally selected to represent the province.

She seems rather beamier than tee standard Rona, and off the wind she gets out of the water and away faster than any other boat in the contest. For shape, her hull easily passed the measurers, but there are many other things about her not according to specifications. Her riveting is not up to standard. Iter deck is rough, largely constructed of three-ply. and supported indiscriminately. She was not a fit boat to be classed as a provincial champion. and she would be unlikely to be accented if she were nominated for the Sanders Cun again. A SCORCHING SUN. A SOUTHERN GALE —Cotton. The weather this summer has been very changeable. Beware catching chill in sudden transition from heat to cold. Always keep Baxters Lung Preserver handy to prevent coughs, colds, sore throats, and other bronchial ailments. At the first sign of a cough or cold take “ Baxters,” Is 6d, 2s 6d and 4s 6d at any chemist or store. “ Baxters ” has tonic properties also.—Advt.