YACHTING

Southland Times, Issue 21897, 24 December 1932, Page 13

YACHTING

(By

“Spinnaker.”)

This week-end should see a big thinning out in the boats on the Estuary. Last week-end the Ti Kaigna left for Bluff, during the week the Eureka left for Stewart Island and the Te Moana for Bluff and to-morrow the Flora, Alert and Seabird all leave for the Island where they will spend the holidays cruising around the many beautiful bays and islets of Stewart Island. Local enthusiasts are indeed fortunate in having such a wonderful cruising ground so near to their home port. Good weather is all they require now to have a really grand holiday. A good steady westerly was blowing for last Monday’s race which Colleen, after sailing a good race, won fairly comfortably. Once again, Huia and Ulva had a great fight for it for second place, Ulva finally filling that position. These two boats are very evenly matched in a moderate breeze and can always be depended on to provide good racing. Ted Jackson sailed the Ariel into fourth place and gained a first for Xclass boats. He is improving with each race and should be seen winning more races before the end of the season. Bluff Regatta is beginning to take up the attention of yachtsmen and already it has been decided to take the following boats from Invercargill: Huia, Vai, Rosita, Ariel, Spindrift and Una. It is quite possible that some of the others might still decide to go. Fortrose will

probably be represented by at least one boat and Stewart Island are sending the Rona, Phyllis and Murihiku 11. Skippers should take note that the starting times have been altered from those shown on the posters and now are: Restricted Class Championship, 10.30 a.m.; Jellicoe Class Championship, 12.30 p.m; Open-to-all Handicap Race, 2.30 p.m. The Eureka was hauled out last week-end and, after a paint up, was launched again on Wednesday evening and sailed on Thursday morning for Stewart Island for the Christmas holidays.

The Canterbury Sailing and Power Boat Association reports that it has received challenges for the Sanders Cup from the following: Auckland, Otago, Southland, and Wellington, the lastnamed province challenging only on condition that all contestants are racing in boats measured by and fitting the external moulds of the 1923 Rona plan, as per spirit and instructions of the last Dominion Conference. It is not known whether the Murihiku II will go to Bluff this year or not. Her skipper, Snowy Robertson, is at present in hospital and does not know whether he will be out and about again before the New Year. If he is not out by then, we hope to see him out as soon as possible afterwards.