THE RUDDER CUP.

New Zealand Illustrated Sporting & Dramatic Review, Volume XVII, Issue 965, 3 September 1908, Page 12

THE RUDDER CUP.

CONDITIONS GOVERNING THE RACE. ‘ The Royal N.Z. Yacht Squadron have <„d pte-’. the following conditions to govern' the race for the Rudder Cup, presented by Mr W. Fleming Day, editor of “ The Rudder.” The course will be from the Queen’s Wharf round Sail Rock (Tuturu) and return, a distance of 110 knots. Sail Rock, it may be pointed out,, is between Bream Tail Point and the Hen (Taranga) the largest island of the Hen and Chickens group. The race is for cruising boats of not less than 25ft water line and with a water line breadth of not less than one-fifth of the water line length. A cruising boat is one built and used' for cruising. It must have a cabin containing sleeping, cooking, and general accommodation for crew. An explosive engine operated by gasoline, kerosene or.iathohol, must be the motive power. The boat must be fitted with solid propellers, adjustable or reversible propellers, will not be allowed. The crew, which shall not be changed during the race, must consist’ of not less than , four persons, two of whom may be paid hands; steering and running of engine to be performed by amateurs only. In the event of the owner not being on board during the race, he must be represented by a member of a recognised club. Names and vocations of the crew must, be given. Each boat must or tow a dinghy at least Bft long, must carry two anchors and gear. Side and other lights required by the Board of ' Trade, a life preserver for each member of the crew, compass, charts, lead line,-buckets and at least one fire extinguisher. Racers may enter any port and anchor, if necessary through J Stress of weather, but must enter and leave under their own power. Any racer accepting a tow will be, disqualified. Each captain must keep a log to be handed to the committee within twelve hours-of finishing. Boats carrying sails of any description must have them sealed by the committee before the start, and seals must be intact at the finish. The committee reserve the right to reject any entry if, in their judgment, the boat is not a bona fide, seaworthy craft, or whose status is not in accord with the rules. The race, which will be the biggest affair of the kind ever held in N.Z., will take place in December next, and a large entry is anticipated. In connection with the above conditions I cannot help thinking that two of them should be amended. One of these is the proviso that the running of the engines must be performed by an amateur. This will probably bar such boats as the Vanora, Waitiri and other bona fide cruisers from entering. Where owners regularly employ a man to look after the engines, that man should be allowed. Such owners should not be driven to hunt up an amateur to run the engines, as the thing is unreasonable. The other regulation is the one prohibiting sails. Now this is to be an ocean race given solely with the idea of encouraging ocean cruising for which sails are a necessity. Then why bar them? Because some owners are so foolish as to go cruising without any sail power to help them back to port in the event of mishap, is that any reason why the more sensible owners should be penalised? In the New York to Bermuda race the vessels carried sail, as was the case in the London to Cowes race. To bar their use is to do away with one of the very conditions for which the cup was given, viz., for a cruising race under cruising conditions.