YACHTS MEASURED.

Star (Christchurch), Volume LXVI, Issue 20222, 5 February 1934, Page 7

YACHTS MEASURED.

Steel Moulds for Sanders Cup Contestants. QUIET MORNING AT PORT. The peace of a Sleepy Hollow brooded over Lyttelton this morning. Through the mellow sunlight pulsed the mellow strokes of a riveting hammer at work on the funnel of a ship, but it was only an accompaniment that did not jar the quietude. From time to time a shunting engine heaved a panting breath. In only one place was there any intense activity. In a shed near the boat harbour the official measurers to the Sanders Cup Conference were putting together the steel moulds with which the hulls of the fourteen-footers are measured to test their conformity to the Rona-Jellicoe design. Outside, a heat wave hovered over the nearby oil tanks, which flamed silver and orange, and even in the shade of the shed the heat was too great to allow any of the yachtsmen to grow excited over the measuring. While the preparation of the moulds proceeded competing yachtsmen and spectators wandered from one boat to another, ran appraising palms along their sleek hulls and discussed their chances in the cup races. Opinion generally favoured Canterbury. Irene Favoured. “There’s a goer! She’ll be hard to beat,” said Nigel Blair, waving a hand in the direction of Irene’s cubicle. Mr Blair is on his second visit to Lyttelton with Wellington’s representative, Lavina, in quest of the Sanders Cup. , Lavina gave Avenger a close run last year and Mr Blair was anticipating that he would have to go a good deal harder this year to get as close to Irene. The Southland manager, Mr F. J. Biggs, raised a perspiring face from an attitude of devotion over the hull of Val. He dropped his polishing rag back into the tin. He, too, gestured in the direction of Irene. ‘‘Just take a handful of sand and rub it on the bottom of that boat,” he pleaded. Mr Biggs said his crew had been having great sailing at Lyttelton in the past few day’s, but they had also seen that Irene had a great crew, fine equipment andean excellent suit of sails. “ Our boat’s not in such good condition as I would have liked,” said Mr A. Challis, the Otago manager. “We haven’t had possession of her very long, so we haven’t been able to put in much work on her.” If Eileen got plenty of wind and plenty of weight she would go well, but Irene’s qualities had impressed him as being outstanding, especially the condition of her sails.

By now the steel moulds were ready. Many willing hands lifted the outfit and carried it over the hull of Irene. Ten minutes were spent with a spanner adjusting various parts. Then the doors were unlocked and the moulds carried out of the cubicle. It took only a few minutes to measure the other three boats, the measurers expressing entire satisfaction with the results of their work.