YACHTS COMPETE IN RACE FROM AUCKLAND TO SYDNEY

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 64, 17 March 1931, Page 8

YACHTS COMPETE IN RACE FROM AUCKLAND TO SYDNEY

Two Days Of Dead Calm Weather Halts Progress Past Cape Brett.

(Special to the “ Star.”) AUCKLAND, March 17. EXCEPTIONALLY keen interest has been aroused hy the trans-Tasman yacht race now in progress from Auckland to Sydney, a 1200-mile course. There are three competitors, the Melbourne yacht Oimara, the Norwegian visitor Teddy, and the Auckland yacht Rangi. The Oimara came over to New Zealand to challenge any auxiliary New Zealand boat. The quest looked a fruitless one until Mr E. Tambs, a Norwegian, who is sailing round the world, agreed to race the Melbourne boat, and later the Auckland yacht Rangi, formerly a stoutly-built fishing boat, entered the lists. Cape Maria van Diemen, reporting at 10.30 a.m. to-day, said that the sea was dead Calm and there was no sign of the yachts, nor did the Maunganui, which arrived from Sydney at 7.25 to-day, see them.

The race began at 2 p.m. on Saturday, when thousands of spectators crowded the Auckland waterfront. They wanted to get a sight.of the intrepid crews who gaily set off on their 1200mile race with the nonchalance of yachtsmen starting in an Anniversary Day race round Rangitoto Beacon and back. It was a perfect da) r . The sun was shining as ardently as it does in midFebruary. Oimara and Teddy pulled out from their berths between Queen’s and Central wharv es. By the time the race was due to start, the wind, which had been south-west, drew more southerly, and though it was very light it could not have been better for a spectacular sendoff. Both yachts carried all plain rail, Teddv mainsail, staysail and jib. and the Melbourne boat the same, with the addition of her little jigger* They both looked very workmanlike craft, but the Norwegian undoubtedly filled the eye of the yachtsman more satisfactorily when he” thought of the possibilities of the Tasman with its vagaries during a storm. Tell-tale Reefpoints. A hint of the possibility of things not being so tranquil in the Tasman was to be noted by the nautical eye in the three rows of reefpoints in Teddy’s staysail. Her dingy canvas looked much stouter than that of her rival, but as the latter had already crossed the Tasman her lighter canvas and lighter gear generally had no doubt been well tried out and satisfied her plucky owner and crew. In the peak of her mainsail Oimara carried “ 59,” her club designation, while the Teddy had a large “ N ” (for Norway), over a figure “ 1.” The Melbourne boat flew her club pennant at the main trucks and Teddy had a great big Norwegian flag flying from a burgee stick. Rangi Gets Away. The race was robbed of a certain amount of local interest, as the Rangi did not start with the others. The Auckland boat eventually got off the slip at about twenty minutes to three, and set off on her own, crossing the line about three-quarters of an hour late, bill, a few minutes here' or there makes no difference in such a long race. The Crews. The crews are as follows: Oimara (Australia): Messrs F. J. Bennell (owner), Mr J. Bennell, jun., Captain H. G. Symonds (navigator), C. Constance. Teddy (Norway): Messrs Erling Tambs (owner and navigator), R. Goodwin,. E. W. Bone, H. Brown, W. G. Parkinson. Rangi (New Zealand): LieutenantCommander W. C. Juler (navigator> v Messrs D. Kirkcaldie, A. Clarke, E. Spraggon. Two Separate Contests. Owing to the decision of the Royal

New Zealand Yacht Squadron not to recognise the Rangi as a competitor in the contest, the race will resolve itself into two competitions, the one between the Oimara and the Teddy, recognised by the Yacht Squadron, and the other between the Oimara, the Teddy and the Rangi, recognised by the Akarana Yacht Club. Before starting, the Rangi’s auxiliary engine was removed, as it had broken down previously while cruising in the gulf. Repairs to the engine would have meant a very late start, so Commander Juler decided, like Mr Tambs, *o rely on sail alone. The work of building in the yacht’s cockpit and fitting a deck rail was completed on Saturday morning, and provisions for a four weeks’ trip were taken on board. The attitude of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron to the race was explained by the Commodore, Mr N. L. Macky. He said the squadron arranged the race between the Oimara and the Teddy. The entry of the Rangi was a purely private matter between the owners of the Rangi and the owners of the other boats. The squadron’s reason for making an exception of the Rangi was that they considered her an unsuitable boat for such a race. Originally stoutly built as a fishing boat known as the Schepelo, the Rangi is considered by many boatmen to be quite suitable for the task that is being undertaken; in fact, many support her chances under average weather conditions. Trophy for Race. The three yachts have agreed to compete for a Cup ”, presented by the Akarana Yacht Club for perpetual challenge. It is a silver cup, inscribed with a New Zealand map on one side and an Australian map on the other. Any point in dispute between the contestants is to be referred to the Akarana Yacht Club, whose - decision will be final. The cup is not recognised by the New Zealand Yacht Squadroji. The Oimara is now the only vessel carrying an engine, and her owner, Mr F. J. Bennell, states that he will use his engine at his discretion. The handicaps for the race, which were being framed by the Melbourne committee, would be arranged in the same way as they were by American officials for the ocean race to the Bermudas. Under that system the quantity of petrol carried and the engine were taken into consideration. Actually the auxiliary boats were allowed to carry fuel sufficient for about one-quarter of the Sti-aight-line distance. The vessels were divided into sail,, and power and sail classes and handicapped accordingly. Off Cape Brett. A message on Sunday said that the Oimara (Australia) passed Cape Brett at eleven* o’clock that morning. Teddy and Rangi, separated by about a mile and a half, followed at three o’clock; in the afternoon. Cape Brett is 110 miles from Cape Maria van Diemen. ESS® ESS®®®®®®®®®®®®!®