AQUATIC MECCA

Southland Times, Issue 23377, 8 December 1937, Page 11

AQUATIC MECCA

TASMAN’S CENTENARY ON THE DERWENT National spotting history will be made at Tasman’s centenary regatta, to be held by the Royal Hobart Regatta Association on the Derwent from February 19 to 22. It will be the most representative aquatic gathering yet held in the Commonwealth. New Zealand will be represented. The Royal Perth Yacht Club is particularly keen about the 12 metres sharpie and 12ft cadet dinghy classes, says The Sydney Referee. Western Australia has not raced on the Derwent since the 21ft restricted class boat, Fan, competed some years ago. Holdfast Bay Club, South Australia, will send 25 sharpies. They will also compete in the cadet dinghy and the 21ft classes.

The 21ft boat, Saskia, owned by commodore J. White, has already arrived from St. Kilda Yacht Club, Melbourne, and is lying on the Derwent awaiting a good breeze and a crew. Mr White will arrive in February. He proposes to sail across the Strait in Acrospire IV. In addition to Saskia, which Mr White shipped from Brisbane, Victoria will be represented by three other 21ft craft. They will compete in the Forster Cup series. Sharpies _and cadet dinghies will also race. Commodore Huybers’s 21-footer Dolphin, of the Royal Queensland Yacht Club, will sail for the Northern state. New South Wales will have large representation in all classes. Six metre owners are more interested in the regatta than in the Northcote Cup series. Indeed, it is unlikely that a challenge to the Northcote Cup holder, Toogooloowoo, will come from New South Wales this season. Big class yachtmen are ’also keen. Several are contemplating the journey south. The outstanding feature of the gala will be the Australian champioixship for the 14ft dinghy class. New Zealand has agreed to send boats. In the event of a New Zealand craft winning the event, the title of Australasian champion will be conferred upon her. As there are no 14-footers on the Derwent, it is a splendid gesture on the part of the Australian Dinghy Council to permit the title event being sailed there. The Victorian body has sportingly waived its rights to the 1938 contests. Australian outboard championships and O’Donoghue Shield contests have been rostered for Hobart. W. McFarlane, of South Australia, owner of Tilmeree and Meeninie, will tranship to Hobart, and several Victorian craft will be present.