YACHTING.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18045, 4 January 1927, Page 4

YACHTING.

NEWS AND NOTES. FIXTURES. Saturday, January S—A. and C. Classes at Redcliffs. Considerable disappointment has been f**lt in yachting:, as in other circles, over the inclement weather conditions which have so militated against any protracted cruising this year. The week or ten days between Christmas and the New Year has always been perhaps the most looked-forward-to time of the yachting season, when yachtsmen all over the province have prepared for days of sunbaked drifting or wind thrashed beating: round the buoys and harbours of Banks Peninsula, returning brown and refreshed for another year's routine in office or shop. This year, however, cold easterlies, with thick mist or driving rain have prevailed, and very few enjoyable days have, been possible. Several of the Lyttelton cruft, including Kia. Ora, Shadow. Wanderer and others, have had short spins, some indeed getting as far as Akaroa. but the Redcliffs fleet have been caged up in their home waters by a roaring and voracious bar, \<*hlch lias effectually prevented even the most hardy from venturing into deeper and more extensive waters. Despite this, however, several yachts have spent the week cruising, or more truthfully, camping, some at the Naval Reserve, some at Pleasant Point. and others using the Club House as headquarters for the holidays. It's an ill wind that blows no one any good, however, and this is especially applicable to the ease of the Pleasant Point. Gala Committee, who had arranged a programme of yacht races for their gala on New Year’s Lay-, when a large number of yachts that would with suitable weather have been scattered round the bays, spent the day at the Point. A pleasurable light breeze, plenty of water, and a fine sparkling sun made sailing conditions ideal, and the large crowd picnicking at the Point were (rented to a very line display, both of yachting and motor-boating. Luring the course of the race, and of the aquaplaning “stunts" performed behind Miss Canterbury at top speed, the wharf and beach were thronged with spectators, who took a very keen interest in the displays. A flukv breeze and had handicapping rather spoilt the yacht racing, the fleet being very much spread out, and the winner being very hard to distinguish. An attempt was made to revive the old Mark Foy system of handicapping, whereby handicaps were taken off before the start, the limit yachts being first away, and the others in order of handicap. By this means it was hoped to bring all the yachts together in a close finish, thus ensuring plenty of excitement for the spectators, with the added advantage of having the first boat home declared the winner, making it much more easy for the uninitiated to pick the successful yachts. The first places were, however, filled by the scratch boats, who easily caught the fleet, and. indeed, some of the limit yachts were almost half a lap behind the first boat to finish. Very little was thus gained by the unfamiliar system, which has never yet proved anything of n success in its several trials on the Estuary. Ripple was first away? followed by Sea Imp and Omega, with Lottrell and Warau last to start. A lead dver half the lap was followed by a short beat, where Alerte drew out into the lead, followed by Fidget and Ripple. Alerte was first round the buoy, and retained her advantage oh the run back to the jetty, rounding first, with Fidget close behind, and the scratch boat, Warau, close on their heels. Alerte then withdrew as a protest against the handicapping, and Fidget took the lead back, soon to bC passed by Warau. Beating up in the narrow channel, again Fidget cleverly took the lead off Warau, and rounded first, Warau second and Lottrell tKird. Running back, Warau soon flew past Fidget, and just on the line Lottrell caught Fidget, supplying the only excitement of the race. The C Class twelve-footer Fidget was very unlucky in not securing a second place, but she had no hope against tlie twenty and thirty-foot A Class cracks. The results were as follow: — Boat. Skipper. PbyjeLotVrell 2nd Fidget E. Morrison 3rd Secret R. Gormack 4th Now' that all the respective provincial representatives have been selected it is possible to make some sort of a prediction as to the results of the racing for the Sanders Cup in February next. Tt is, of course, still rather early, as there is yet over a month to go, but from bis knowledge of the various boats and their crews the writer ventures to make the following placmes in the final contest, and in order that there shall be no bias shown will start from the northern and work to the southern end of the Lominion. Auckland will be represented b> Rons A glance af. the record of the contests will show this name figuring twice as the winnef, once in Auckland and once in Wellington. Assuming that Rona retains her old form, she should be hard to beat, more especially on a good blow, her stiffness and speed off the wind being a by-word. With Alec Mathews at the helm. she has Auckland’s premier small-boat skipper, and should prove the hardest nut for the holder, Betty, to crack. Hawke's, Bay.—Avalon, last years Auckland representative. will this year come from Hawke's Bay, but her veteran skipper, Joe Patrick, will not be at the helm. This should almost certainlv cramp her style, as the boy skipper. Neil Gillies, although a clever and daring hand, has not the experience necessary to race against Andrews and Mathews. AValon should not prove so hard to beat as she did last year. Wellington.—Much adverse comment has been passe.l on the selection of jvpsrv as Wellington's representative this year, as against the claims of WelJeslev a true Rona boat, and, judging by last year's performances, Peggy win not prove a very formidable competitor in Lvttelton this year. Peggy's skipper last year was Crawford, who may again have her helm. Canterbury.—Last year s Cup winner, Betty, will again contest the race this vearl and has evidently lost none of her old speed. George Andrews will again be at the helm, and this combination should find little to fear in most of the competition. Without any undue provincial prejudice, it may he said that Betty will start a hot favourite close alongside Rona and Dunedin s representative, Winifred, another old restricted craft, which, given her favourite light breezes—which is, fortunately for Canterbury, an unlikely contingency —should have the heels others. Winifred and her skipper, George Kellett, should not prove a specially hard proposil ion. Southland. —Last, but not least, we have a brand new crack-a-jack Rona boat. Murlliiku If., from the stocks of G. Bailey, of Auckland, builder of Avalon, and from all accounts the new boat is a force to be reckoned with. Her skipper will be Carol Hansen, another young helmsman, and this should, as in ' the case of Avalon, prove her stumbling block. Canterburv.—Betty has now established her claim to the representation of her province. In Monday morning s race, while the light sou’-wester held, she drew away from the fleet, proving that she is just as superior in a light as in a fresh breeze, but later was pocketed and sat on her stern while the others closed up with spinnakers set until she had lost all her eleven-minute lead. Later she was again pocketed in the light easterly, close to the finishing line, thus losing the race to Usher and Linnet. In the afternoon she was never worried, making up her had start, and even with her big leader set, drawing away from under the lee of the lenders. Thus with her fourth win Betty - will now represent Canterbury in the Sanders t !uj> Contest, to be held in Lyttelton in February next.