YACHTING

Southland Times, Issue 22734, 9 November 1935, Page 15

YACHTING

(By

The Ideal Boat

“Spectator.”)

As the season approaches the prospects of obtaining a new boat built to order in time for early summer cruising becomes increasingly remote, while if the prospective owner is in the market for a second-hand craft, he will find that prices begin to rise comparatively early in the year, (says “Spindrift” in the New Zealand Herald). Experienced yachtsmen who are taking delivery of newly-built craft, placed their orders long ago. Others have already investigated the “Boats for Sale” list and made their choice before the last minute rush. In other words, those who believe in taking the fullest advantage of the season’s cruising have not only purchased their boats, but have almost got them ready for launching. There is a great deal to be said in favour of early orders for new boats and timely purchases of second-hand craft. In each case the owner stands a much better chance of obtaining an ideal boat for his purpose than if matters are left to the last moment. A hastily finished boat is often unsatisfactory in use in one respect or another, and the owner rarely feels that he has had exactly what he set out to acquire in the first instance. Similarly, leaving the purchase of existing craft until the season is almost in full swing usually means that the buyer has to take a boat that falls short of his needs, and in some cases is actually a bad bargain. Newcomers to boating will do well to keep the principal involved always in hand; plan for almost anything in connection with sport on the water to be completed early. Many have discovered that buying a second-hand boat is vastly different from selecting a used car; much more time is usually needed in the former instance, and the wider margin allowed the greater likelihood there is of getting a boat of one particular type or another that the owner can regard as approaching his ideal. The question of selecting the power plant should also be given serious consideration. Very often, by ordering well ahead, a more suitable power unit for the hull can be obtained than would be the case of simply relying on the present stocks. Riverton Notes.

On Wednesday evening, in the presence of a large gathering of spectators, the Riverton Club held the first race of the season. There were six entrants for the race which was the first of three for the President’s Cup. The wind was a tricky south-westerly. The boats went away in the following order: Comet, Roseen, Ariel, Silver Fern, Spray and Miss Riverton. During the first round Comet maintained the lead, and the Roseen drew away from Ariel. On the second round Silver Fern gained on the leaders, and Ariel fouled a buoy while Spray was also coming up. The finish saw F. Stenton in the Comet win in handsome style from the Roseen and the Silver Fern.—“ Tiller.” Saturday’s Races. Two races were sailed over the Tuft Buoy course last Saturday. The wind was a light southerly and proved very flukey during the afternoon. In the first race Suzette was the first boat away followed by Colleen, Huia and Omit in that order. The three Jellicoe class boats, Rosita, Irene, and Evelyn, started from scratch. Suzette held her lead all the way, although Colleen came up well near the finish. Huia filled third place. Irene soon took the lead from Rosita in the X class. Evelyn lost the wind and fell well astern to finish last.

After an adjustment of handicaps the second race was sailed over the same course. The boats started in the same order. Huia, working on a windward course, caught Suzette and Colleen at the pipe line. Irene also showed a glimpse of her speed on the lead to the buoy. She was following by Omit and Evelyn. Rosita was unable to gain a good breeze and was gradually left behind. Irene missed the buoy on the turn and was forced,to make another board to fetch the mark 20 seconds ahead of Huia. The latter set her spinnaker more smartly than Irene and gained the windward position for the run to the wharf. The light breeze and flood tide gave the rest of the fleet a hard struggle to reach the turning mark.

The race now resolved itself into a contest between Huia and Irene over the last mile. These two came up together with Huia just holding the lead to win by a length. Waterfront Activities.

It is pleasing to see the 14-footer crews down to solid training. It is to be hoped the other skippers will follow their example. G. Nelson has his snipe in the club shed for her final touches. Spindrift has been a non-starter so far. I hope to see her competing to-day. C. Bricknell has installed a marine engine in Temahanka. The local enthusiasts are very keen to see how she will behave.

Miranda has been noticed coming up under sail twice lately, while Maranui has also been down for a run. Southern Light is still on her moorings, but is expected to refit shortly. An order for a 25-foot kauri launch has been placed with a local builder for delivery before the end of the year. Another shed has a 16-foot keeler almost completed. Inquiries were made for the purchase of one of the local 14-footers during the week, but the owners in each case were unwilling to sell. Mr J. Harry, whose genial personality and helpful advice have always been in evidence in past seasons, is an absentee this year. Members all join in wishing him a speedy return to good health. Although Mr A. S. Russell has disposed of his launch Queen of Beauty he still retains his friendly interest in the doings of the local club. His letter to the club was fully appreciated by members present at Monday’s meeting. Owing to the weather conditions J. Shannon did not launch his new 14footer last week-end, but he expects to get her into the water to-day. Rask Bros have made a fresh start on a 40foot launch. This craft is being built on a natural frame and when finished will be a further addition to the local fleet.

Sanders Cup Trial. While from the point of view of entries the Sanders Cup trial in Dunedin on Saturday was very satisfactory, it was a disappointment in almost every, other way. The race soon resolved itself into a procession, with boats dropping out at intervals, and the actual finish was far from exciting. With only three of the entrants eligible to race in the contest at Auckland, interest was naturally lessened, and for this reason it is a very debatable point whether the practice of racing ineligible boats is satisfactory. Of course, the choosing of a crew has to be considered, and it is only right that everyone should be given a chance to sail, but here again it is doubtful if it is a satisfactory method to choose the members of a crew on their performances in boats which they are familiar, and then ask them to handle a yacht that may be absolutely strange to them. Although Vai led throughout, and won handsomely, the most impressive performance was put up _ by Squib, whose crew handled her in a workmanlike manner. Her skipper, W. Mason, took plenty of risks in setting her spinnaker in the strong wind, but they were justified. Squib was also leaking badly throughout the race, necessitating constant work at the pump. Vai was carefully handled by her skipper, who took few risks in the heavy weather. Poor seamanship was shown off the wind, however, and in the first round the boat was put up into the wind, while in the second she ran up under Waverley well towards Vauxhall, the boat again being put up into the wind. The same thing occurred

again after the run across to the wharf, and the skipper did not even attempt to set his spinnaker. The skippers of Heather, Yvonne and Squib, on the other hand, took all risks. Seamanship is just as important in the trials as in the actual contest, where it is the man who will take reasonable risks that will get that slight advantage that may mean the difference between first and second place. It was unfortunate that Rada capsized and received considerable damage, but it was not entirely unexpected, as the boat was very sluggish in stays. Regarding this accident it should be mentioned that the follow-up boat was far too slow in getting to the rescue of the crew. In such weather it is essential that more than one boat should follow the fleet to effect quick rescues, but on Saturday this was impossible with the majority of the craft in the harbour down at Port Chalmers. Nevertheless, it was a considerable time before those in the Marion even realized that Rada had capsized, and in the heavy sea anything may have happened to the crew sitting on the upturned bottom.

Betty’s performance was disappointing to say the least. There are many who are convinced that she is the best boat of her class on the harbour, and this contention is probably founded on fact, but on Saturday she was outsailed by all her opponents. She lost a great deal of ground at the start, being nearly two minutes behind the leader when she crossed the line, and this leeway was never made up. She was last of the four boats to finish.—Otago Daily Times.