Yachts And Yachting.

Star (Christchurch), Volume XLIV, Issue 65, 18 March 1931, Page 11

Yachts And Yachting.

Considerable interest is being evinced in the ocean race now in progress from Auckland to Sydney. The three entrants are Teddy (Norway), Oimara (Melbourne), and Rang! (Auckland). Of these Oimara would seem to be the fastest, with Rangi likely to have an advantage over Teddy in easy weather. In the case of gales or very heavy blows Teeldy would probably have the advantage over both. The course of the race will be followed with interest, and every hope for a safe voyage for all. J Tiie principle entailed in giving official encouragement to a race of this sort would seem to have occupied the minds of members of several of the Auckland yachting clubs. While there is little doubt that the voyage is reasonably safe, the responsibility should be left entirely in the hands of those taking part, and some excuse can be found for any body which does not desire to give official sanction or encouragement to a venture of such nature.

While Teddy is a fine sea-going type of ship, designed for ocean voyages and undertaking a trip which would have been included in her itinerary in the ordinary course of events, the cases of the other two entrants are not so justifiable. Oimara, indeed, is a strong seaworthy type, and seems capable of undertaking such a crossing with a minimum of risk, but. her trip has features which cannot entirely be recommended. Particularly is this so when it' comes to a question of racing. Ocean sailing Is at any time risky enough, but to add the incentive to over-canvas and generally to take risks in order to outpace a rival, is only to add to the already sufficient risk entailed. Rangi, as far as can be gathered, is a racing rather than a cruising yacht. With her overhanging bow and counter, she does not appear in any way designed for running before, riding out. or breasting the notorious Tasman gales. There is no doubt that a craft could have been found in New Zealand waters much better suited to such an undertaking, and the very fact that no other entrant has come forward rather gives point to the risk inherent in such semi-racing cruises.

One must look with regret on the attempt of the two New Plymouth men who recently undertook to sail an eigh-teen-foot yacht, roughly converted from a centre-board type by the addition of a piece of railway iron as a keel, from New Plymouth to Hyttelton. The loss of this yacht en route, and the only too probable fate of the crew makes comment unnecessary, but the occasion must be taken to draw attention to th 6 prevalence pf such risky ventures and to the moral illustrated. Racing programmes for the year fare now drawing to a conclusion with most of the 'Canterbury clybs. The season, on the whole, has not- been so successful as in the case of some of the previous years. In neither the entries nor the number of races has the standard of past years been, upheld. This is due to varying causes. On the. Estuary, the formation of a new club at Pleasant Point a few years back has slowly sapped a fair number of boats from the Redcliffs fleet, until the races at the head of the Estuary are now tending to rival the events nearer the mouth. *♦ JJ On both sides of the hill interest seems to have turned recently in the direction of cruising rather than racing, many former racing enthusiasts now spending their week-ends cruising round the bays. Interest, however, will be aroused temporarily when the two Stacey Trophy races will be held at Lyttelton next Saturday. The Irene Stacey Trophy will be competed for by yachts under 14ft overall length, with a, sail area not exceeding that of a Takapuna type twelve-footer. The Betyl Stacey Trophy will be awarded to the winner of the race for yachts of 14ft or over, to be held on the same day. In addition to these races, the following Saturday will see contests for the two Navy League trophies, for Takapuna punts and for Jellicoe class four-teen-footers. Interest should be stimulated by these contests, during the next two week-ends, and by that time Easter cruising will be occupying the minds of most yachtsmen, as a final fling- before winding up the season.