AQUATICS.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XIII, Issue 794, 25 May 1905, Page 12

AQUATICS.

(By ** The Reefer.”)

Members wishing to take advantage of the technical classes inaugurated by the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron must send in their names to Mr. Cole, the hon. secretary, by the inst. * * * * The Royals are going in for an open evening on June .15 at the Squadron Rooms, where the prizes won during the season will be presented. Lady friends are to be invited, and the entertainment provided for their amusement will consist of a concert, lantern exhibition, progressive euchre, bridge, and games of billiards. The evening promises to be very successful. * * * * Logan Bros, are about to build a small rater of the Mercia type for a South African sportsman. * sis * ' The Ponsoiiby Cruising Club is going in for a series of weekly progressive euchre evenings, to while away the tedium of the winter. # * * * Very great interest is being taken by yachtsmen in the result of the race across the Atlantic for the Cup presented by the German Emperor. There have been numerous races across the “ herring pond” before, and some very interesting struggles have resulted, but the fleet of eleven which started from New York last Wednesday is, of course, by far . the largest which has evei’ competed in a race of over such a distance. The fleet is certainly a mixed one, beim- made up of the Valhalla, 647 tons (aux. ship), Apache, 307 tons (aux. barque), Utowana, 500 tons (aux. 3-masted schooner), Sunbeam 227 tons (aux. barquentine), Atlantic, 206 tons (aux. 3-masted schooner), Hamburg, 331 tons (schooner), Thistle, 235 tons (topmast schooner), Hildegarde, 145 tons (schooner), Endymion, 116 tons (schooner), Ailsa, 116 tons (yawl), and Fleur-de-Lys, 86 tons (schooner). This would have been a difficult lot to handicap, but as there is no time allowance they are fighting it out on their merits. The fastest passage ever made was achieved by the Endymion, one of the competitors in the race, which on a former trip ran from Sandy Hook to The Needles in 13 days 20 hours 36 minutes. Taking this passage as a standard, they should be somewhere off the finishing-line about the end of next week. It is very difficult to forecast the probable result. In heavy weather and with the wind anything like fair, a powerful square-rigged vessel like the Valhalla might have a chance, as would the famous old Sunbeam and the Apache. In ordinary weather the fine up-to-date schooner Atlantic, with an expert like Captain Barr in charge, should prove very hard to beat, and she is favourite for the race. In her old trim and with her English crew Hamburg (ex Rainbow) would possess a very big chance, but whether her German crew can do the speedy two-sticker justice remains to be seen. If light winds are encountered, and especially if there is much beating to windward to be done, the yawl Ailsa should show the way to all the schooners, but in very heavy weather she might have to lie-to while the big vessels are being hard driven. If asked to tip the winner I should pick Ailsa and Hamburg if the weather is light, and Atlantic if there are fairly strong breezes met with. It is a pity that the representatives of the English Yacht Club are not rather more up-to-date vessels. Off Nantucket Valhalla, which got a bad start, was leading the fleet, so probably the wind was behind her, as the cable stated it also favoured Sunbeam. The latter has been re-coppered specially for the race. * * • • A very interesting letter appears in a recent number of the “ Field” on the

subject of handicaoping. The writer advocates a system of handicapping which should replace the present happy-go-lucky method. He thinks that a fusion of the scratch and ex-rater classes might be brought about by the handicapping being done, not casually for each race in seconds but on system, and more or less permanently, in the form of a discount off the rating, the measurement certificate, of course, being maintained just as for a scratch race, jthus, if there were four 30-footers built in 1902, 1903, 1904, . and 1905 respectively, the handicapper would allot each yacht a fictitious rating according to her merits and age. Thus the 1905 boat would be 30, the 1904 boat 29.4, the next 29, and the oldest 28.5. Time allowance would then merely be calculated according to Y.R.A. scale. Yachts in their first season should not be entitled to any handicap at all, but should be obliged to risk one year with their class. There seems to be something in. the suggestion, and our senior club might do well to consider the matter before the next season comes round. Certain it is that class racing in the colonies (except among the 30-footers and length boats in Sydney) is as extinct as the moa. There is a possibility that the new system might galvanise it into life again. The present method of handicapping is unsatisfactory, because it is after all but the opinion of one man on the capabilities of the yachts. Very, great care would have to be taken in the classification, but it seems to me that the system might be given a trial. There are, of course, certain disadvantages, but can anyone honestly say that this does not also apnly in an even more marked degree to the present system? It would be interesting to have the opinions of some of our Auckland yachtsmen on the subject. * * • • “ Every rope used in the British naval service, from heaving line to hawser, and wherever it may be ustu, on shipboard or in dockyard,” said a cordage manufacturer, “ has woven into one of its strands for purposes of idt afication a red thread. The presumption is that any rope with the red thread found outside of such uses is in improper hands. This custom in the British Navy has prevailed since the days of Nelson, or since long before that for aught I know.” * * • • Describing the great eight-oar contest on the Parramatta River between crews from the different States of the Commonwealth, the “ Town and Country Journal” states that all th... six crews started, but Queensland’s poo. chance was still further aff ee ted, owing to an alteration having to be made in the crew as late as Thursday night, through Ferguson becoming ill. Maxwell filled the gap. South Australia was the first crew to reach the starting point, and New South Wales the last. The West Australians were given a cheer, because they had come such a long way. One of the crew inquired what had become of Edwards in the single sculls, but none on the official steamer could tell. After some trouble the crews were sent away to a fine start, Victoria was still in front at Uhr’s point, with Tasmania second, a length ahead of New South Wales. “ Let her go, captain,” yelled an excited spectator, the official steamer being left badly. Just before tbe mile, Tasmania was in front, and, at the first mile, where the time was 4min lOsec, Tasmania was leading by nearly a length, with New South Wales about two lengths behind Victoria, while South Australia and West Australia were next, on level terms, with Queensland in the rear. -Victoria and Tasmania were fighting out a fine race, and, at Putne-- (7jnin. Isee.). the latter was only leading by a little distance; New South Wales was third. South Australia and West Australia being still together. Off the gas works, Victoria got the lead, but at Tennyson (9min. lsec.), there was little between the two. Queensland had dropped still further behind. Tasmania was showing well, and there were hopes that Victoria would at last be downed. Opposite Carbarita (llmin. 29sec.). Victoria was almost a length ahead of Tasmania, who seemed to slow down before the point was reached. New South Wales was then third, five lengths behind, with West Australia and South Australia a length still further in the rear. The West Australians now made a fine spurt. After passing Gladesville, Tasmania steered a bad course, and gave Victoria some distance. At One Man Wharf (14min. 23sec.) Victoria was a little over a length ahead. New South Wales was still third, South Australia and West Australia being level. Victoria retained her advantage, with Tasmania second, and New South Wales third. West Australia was fourth, and Queensland last. The time was 16min. 24sec. It was one of the greatest races ever decided on the river.