Sail and Power.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 18623, 27 November 1928, Page 3

Sail and Power.

(BY

“ STEM.”

Colleen Wins Second Trial at Lyttelton. There were no surprises in Saturday's trial race. As was seen after the first trial, Secret is Colleen's superior to windward, but the new boat’s' qualifications for work off the wind more than comffensate. Over the triangular course there was no straight-out windward work, and Secret was definitely defeated. « X X Under the same conditions as prevailed for the first trial there ‘is no doubt that Colleen would now give Secret a much closer go. Her new mast, though not entirely satisfactory, has less of a whip than the one she first sailed with, and her canvas has an improved set. It was noticeable that the luff of the main was shaking less. Colleen, in fact, is the lighter boat, and will win every time in njoderate weather. Secret’s weight is a disadvantage in anything but the heaviest and the flukiest weathers. It may seem strange that weight makes for better sailing in light airs, but this is very noticeable in light craft. Betty is probably the lightest of all the Rona boats, and George Andrews’s experience* was that she was no use whatever in fluky weather. But, whatever advantages of build Colleen may have, Secret’s crew have shown themselves the better. Fred Morrison’s judgment is never far out. and his seamanship is a pleasure to watch. It may not be of interprovincial standard, but it gains by contrast. There is a certain degree of luck in catching the weather w r hen rounding marks, but the points which Morrison showed the other skippers cannot all be due to luck. His gybe on the Pile Light stake at the end of the first round on Saturday was a magnificent bit of seamanship. 55 55 :: The difference between the crews of Colleen and Secret was also noticeable. The Lyttelton boys may not have had the experience of the fourteen-foot yachts that the Redcliffs crew possessed, but they have far more opportunities for sailing and practice. It would have been encouraging to think that their skill was increasing with each week that passed, especially since possession of the better boat should give them added enthusiasm; but this is not so. Saturday’s display was as lacking in fine points as that of the week before. X 55 55 This is especially noticeable in spinnaker work. Colleen has never yet given a faster exhibition than Secret, and has been up to fifteen seconds behind. Even Usher could show her how on Saturday. To keep the jib drawing on the run may seem a minor point, particularly when one is in the leading position, but the crew of Colleen need a lesson in this art. 55 55 :: Saturday was Gala Day for Watermen. Despite the counter-attraction of the Cup trial at Lyttelton, the estuary was picked out with the white sails of yachts and echoing with the throbbing of launches and the buzz of outboards. Races were held by the Christchurch Sailing and Power Boat Club, the Canterbury Outboard Club, the New Brighton Power Boat Club, and the Waimakariri Power Boat Club.

It was a real gala day on the estuary, especially about three o’clock, when all the races were on. On the Redcliffs and city side alone hundreds of cars were drawn up along the waterfront, showing that there is more interest in aquatic sports now than for a long time. XXX Seventeen yachts started in the Christchurch Club’s races. The swiftly ebbing tide made some unexpected changes near the finish of the events. Te Arai held a constant lead, and Dottrell and Gazelle fought for second position in A class, which was won by Gazelle (E. Etheridge), off 13min, with Dottrell (smin) second and Seagull (18min) third. The B class race resulted in a win for Xgaire. the first that W. Gray has scored in his new boat. The winner came from 15min. and second and third respectively were Eureka (6min) and Rita (14min).

X 55 55 The Outboard Club had the most successful meeting that has come its way yet. The membership is increasing and the club’s future seems fairly well assured. A good permanent course has been fixed, from the club’s premises to Shag Rock, round the banks and return. The fifteen second flag worked well for starting, and no competitors lost more than a few seconds. The races were full of interest, nine boats entering, and there was never more than losec between the first and last to finish. The programme consisted of two open and one B class handicaps, the winners being Tracy Gough’s Moth, Stevens’s Speed Boy and M’Millan’s Country Boy. H. G. Lamb put up the best time in High Jinks. Sanders Cup Trial at Dunedin. Eileen showed some of her sailing powers in the first Sanders Cup trial, sailed last Saturday afternoon, says the yachting writer of the “ Otago Daily Times.” The l»oat. in fact, gave one of her best performances since she was launched twelve months ago. Under the influence of a full-sail north-easter. Eileen went into the lead at the start. She drew further away from her two opponents as the race progressed, and won by nearly four minutes. Kellett. who has his boat in excellent order, sailed a good race. In the first closehaul to the Yacht Club's racing mark buoy, Eileen sailed very fast on both port and starboard tacks, and led Kia Ora by lmin 22sec when she turned for the run back to the starting line. At this stage Heather, the only other competitor. was 2min 40sec astern of Eileen Kia Ora gained three seconds on the leading boat and about a minute on Heather on the run. In the second beat to the channel mark the wind fell light, and Eileen simply raced clear away from the other boats, the light

weather suiting her to perfection. When Kellett turned the buoy Eileen led Kia Ora by 3min Bsec and Heather by fully Bmin. Hugh Riddle and his young crew handled Heather very capably, but the boat gave a poor exhibition of windward work. When sailing on the starboard tack towards the Peninsula shore in both rounds of the course, she drifted badly to leeward, whereas Eileen and Ivia Ora pointed almost into the eye of the wind. Heather did not appear to be properly trimmed. Riddle, however, must not be discouraged. He is an experienced bo}*, and will probably do better with Heather in the subsequent trials. Kia Ora was in charge of R. G. llampton ; a determined and keen lad, who sailed with great success in Canterbury. He sailed Kia Ora remarkably well, considering that he is new to the boat and the waters of this harbour. Hampton displayed fine judgment at certain stages of the race, more particularly on the close-haul. Kia Ora sailed very fast on one board along the retaining wall, and it appeared as though she was gaining fast on Eileen, but when the boats crossed on opposite tacks Kellett still held a comfortable lead. X X X Loose Ends. Speaking of the defeat of the new Rona boat at Auckland, the writer of the Auckland “ Star ” says:—The new 14-footer Val looked very smart as she sailed about off the wharf waiting for her class to start. When she did get going, she did not appear to be holding quite such a good wind as Kismet, while Opah also beat her home. It must be remembered that both Kismet and Opah have ninety square feet more sail than a Jellicoe boat is allowed, and. being a light day, they got the full benefit from it. It will be interesting to see Val and Avalon when they meet, but it will not be for a fortnight, as Avalon is not ready. In the meantime, both the new boat and Rona will compete in club races, and Alexander Matthews is losing no opportunity to get Val into good trim. 55 X 55 Canterbury seems to be becoming a centre for outboard motor-boat development. During last week two fine ships, Madam Hoover and Miss Hoover, were sent to Wellington. Mr G. Andrews, for the syndicate, is at present busy on a stock High Jinks model to go to Lake Kanieri; and when that is completed another is on order for Dunedin. Lake Kanieri, on the Coast, was one of the first waters in New Zealand to have outboard motor-boats. They were introduced by the American men on the Rimu Flat gold dredge. The addition of an up-to-date model should benefit the racing there. 55 X 55 During last week the 25-footer Iranui went up on the slip at Redcliffs for an inspection. The work which her owners put in early in the season is holding well, and Iranui is practically watertight—a very good condition for such an old-timer. X X X Fixtures. December I—Sanders Cup trial race, Lyttelton, at 3 p.m. December B—Christchurch Sailing Club A and B class races, HeathcoteAvon course. December B—Brighton Power Boat Club, Rowland Trophy race, 3 p.m. December 8 Canterbury Outboard Club, two open handicaps, one B class handicap. December 27—Russell regatta, sailing power and outboard races. January 19—Canterbury Outboard Club, Tohn Burns Trophv race and free-for-all race.