MOFFETT CUP

Otago Daily Times, Issue 27569, 11 December 1950, Page 7

MOFFETT CUP

Aqua Lady Wins Trials

YACHTING AT VAUXHALL The feature of the day’s aquatic sports at the opening ceremony of the Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club’s new pavilion on Saturday afternoon was a fine exhibition of planing by the Idlealong yacht Bunny, with S. Larkins at the tiller. It was during the final Idlealong trial, Which Aqua Lady had only to enter, which she did, to be sure of gaining the honour of representing Otago at the Moffett Cup contest at Lyttelton in January. Two rounds of a triangular course were sailed by eight yachts, starting from the Vauxhall clubshed. The yachts were close hauled on the first leg down to the Castle beacon, and during the run down to the Kitchener street pile, the wind moved a few points to the west, and what was meant to be a lead across to Vauxhall became a run before a fairly strong breeze. On this run, Bunnv was the first yacht to unfurl her spinnaker. She was then lying in fourth position. The yacht sat on her stern and ploughed through the surface of the water to fly past Bolero, Mist, and almost caught Aqua Lady as the two boats made for the buoy near the clubhouse. The effort of controlling Bunny must have been too much, however, because .iust as she caught Aqua Lady, she started to yaw, and Larkins had to drop the spinnaker to keep her right-side up. Aqua Lady crossed the finishing line In second position.

The race began in a strongish northeasterly breeze, which frequently changed direction, and most of the yachts carried three men. Only Lightning carried reefed sails. Aqua Lady was first across the line. She was about 20 seconds ahead at the Castle beacon, and was followed around the mark by Bolero, Mist and Bunny. Gale withdrew on the first leg. Chinook, which started almost a round late, capsized near Vauxhall.

Bunny was first round the Castle beacon after getting to windward of Aqua Lady at the start of the second round. She extended her lead on the lead up to the Kitchener street pile, with Aqua Lady and Bolero fighting for the weather position a few seconds behind her. Bunny had trouble with her spinnaker after rounding the pile, and lost the lead to Mist, which was followed across the line by Aqua Lady. The points position at the end of the trials was:—Aqua Lady, G. Fleury (433.34 points), 1; Vixen, J. Kibblewhite, (234.85 points), 2; Lightning, A. Bain (212.90 points), 3; Mist, J. Thompson (168.03 points), 4.

Two races were sailed by P Class yachts on Saturday. Both were won by Kura, with N. Vivian at the tiller. At the end of the morning race, strong squalls swept the harbour, and a large number of spectators on the new Vauxhall pavilion saw how these tiny boats can be righted by their skippers after a capsize. Kura was the only boat to finish in the afternoon race. Pavilion Opened The Vauxhall Power Boat and Sailing Club’s new pavilion was declared open before a crowd of about 500 during the the afternoon by Mr F. Jones, M.P. Mr Jones congratulated the club on 'the work of three years which had culminated in the erection of the building. Such a project was most worthy of public support, he said. It should be remembered that the yacht clubs performed a big service in giving training in seamanship to youths. From the clubs had come men for the navy during the war years. Mr W. R. Clarke, chairman of the Otago Harbour Board, also congratulated the club on the erection of the clubhouse. The president of the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association, Mr H. C. Brown, spoke for the association. The Commodore of the Vauxhall Club, Mr S. F. Chalmers, thanked those members who had helped to make the pavilion a reality. A gala day was held by the club to celebrate the opening of the pavilion. Demonstrations of aquaplaning were given by several youths, and in the. new clubhouse there was all the fun of the fair. The water was too choppy for rowing events, which had to be cancelled. A life saving display was also cancelled, although several people were in the water around the clubhouse during the afternoon. Several speedboats were on the water and two races were held. There was ,no winner in the first race as all the competitors were disqualified for various breaches. The second was won by Miss Chief. Cornwell Cup Sixteen challenges for the 1951 Cornwell Cup yachting contest have been received by the Timaru Yacht Club. The contest, for Takapuna class yachts, will begin at Timaru on January 8. The challengers are:— Christchurch Yacht Club, .Canterbury Yacht and Motor Boat Club, New Plymouth Yacht Club, Manakau Yacht and Motor Boat Club, Wellington Provincial Yacht and Motor Boat Association, Plimmerton Boating Club, Port of Auckland, Tauranga Yacht and Power Boat Club. Aurora Sailing- Club, Manawatu Boating Club, Queen Charlotte Yacht Club, Port of Kaiapoi, Port Chalmers Yacht and Motor Boat Club, North Otago Yacht and Power Boat Club, Paremata Boating Club, Timaru Yacht Club, and the Otago Yacht and Motor Boat Association.