Yachting and Motor Boats of the Dominion

Progress, Volume VI, Issue 12, 2 October 1911, Page 835

Yachting and Motor Boats of the Dominion

Oscar Frcybcrg

_ There can be no doubt that class racing gives the best sport when one contrasts the racing in the four Mullet Boat Classes on the Waitemata, with that in the nondescript classes in all the other ports of the Dominion. What chance have you of close racing when the boats are so widely divergent in size and type: Practically none. The unfortunate handicapper gets the blame, and all hands are more or less dissatisfied. The only thing that will build up the sport to its right height again is the racing boat against a boat of approximately equal dimensions. This is understood in Auckland, and Lord Islington knew it when he gave his Cup to the Yacht Squadron the other day for metre racing. It will undoubtedly promote building and keen racing, tin; two things essential to the life of yachting. While a believer in anything that helps the sport, I am not in love with the boats produced by the metre system, as they are not suited for cruising in our waters and I would rather see a sturdier class built here, capable of crossing and racing in Cook's Strait in its sterner moods.

We have it from Thomas Fleming Day, than whom no higher authority exists, that the only rule for measurement of sea-going vessels is the over-all length, and that nothing else matters. I think he is right. That means that a boat, to have an equal chance of success with the others, would have to be of the same length, and boats of a length would race together in classes, and the sturdiest and most powerful boat would probably win, owing to her sail-carrying abilities, while the others should not be very far behind. Of course we cannot do this all at once, but a very good chance is at hand now to start the thing in a small way. Two, for certain, perhaps three, able little 20ft. deep keelers are being built this season, and will form the nucleus of a class to correspond with the Auckland Mullet boats of the same length. Mr. Birnie's 30-footer may have a twin sister built to the order of a yachtsman of long standing, if he can sell his present boat. Here, again, we have the foundation of an excellent class, thoroughly suited to the rough water conditions obtaining round Wellington. I should be very pleased to supply the lines of this boat to anyone thinking of building.

Mr. Ted. Bailey, of the Boat Harbour, has still another order in hand, a deepkeeler for the new 20ft. class which it is hoped will be formed this season. She is to the order of a medical man, who is a keen yachtsman.

1 hope to be able to reproduce this design in the near future. It shows a boat 20ft. over all, 18ft. water line, 4ft. draught, 6ft. Gin. beam. The headroom is 4ft. Gin., under a coach roof 12in. high. She is a little sister of the 30-footer at

present on the stocks in Bailey's shed, and should be able to give a good account of herself in a sea way. Mr. Birnie's new 30-footer is now complete as far as planking is concerned, and is being fastened and smoothed of£ She looks -very big and powerful for her length, and fit for service in any weather. I am indebted to Messrs. T. M. Lane k Sons for a table showing at a glance the results obtained with the Scripps engine in the "Coquette" during the Kapai v. Scripps test. In addition to the results mentioned in our last issue a test was held on August 18th for fuel economy at an average speed of 8 knots from a standing start over the same'course, (>■/. miles, as before. The fuel tank was emptied absolutely, and a sufficient quantity of benzine carefully measured in. ' The launch completed the course and returned to the starting point. The benzine remaining in the tank was then carefully drained off and measured by a local chemist, who had also attended to the filling of the tank. The following are the full results of. the speed and oil consumption tests: SPEED TEST. Stale of Number Average Time Knots Miles J'ate Jute in crow r p.m. covering per per Ci knots hour hour •filly 31 h. water four (505 .loin 5s 9.05 10 4 Au«. !) flood live (197 43m 0s 9.07 10.45 Aug. 11 ebb four 700 42m 37k 0.15 10.52 FUEL TEST. State Time Total Total Speed Fuel Date lof coy. time benzine njaint'iied consum. tide ' 61 under consumed per hour knots power Aug. la ebb .16ni52s 18m 52s 99* fluid oz. B.3[knots 6.1 pints —4.9 pints

One Bill Webb—not Wanganui's Pride —just Bill Webb. Our Bill Webb, if you like, bought a boat. She wasn't a racing yacht or even a motor boat, just a common, ordinary every day clinker built open boat, and Bill and his crew sailed herwhen she was having some, and pulled her when she wasn't—all over Wellington Harbour. They more often pulled than sailed, by reason of her contrariness under canvas, and very naturally got rather tired of the process. Then Bill bought an engine, and his ideas began to grow while the boat became a launch, and teuf-teufed merrily where she. had formerly laboured along under man power. Now she has acquired a deck and a deckhouse, and lies at moorings among the rest of the power fleet, a veritable motor yacht. Later on—well, who can look into the future?

At Ike annual general meeting of the P.N.Y.C., the following were elected:— Commodore, Mr. C. J. Ward (re-elected) ; Vice-Commodore, Mr. 11. E. Chisholm; Rear-Commodore, Oscar Freyberg; Secretary, Mr. Norman Gibbs; Racing Secretary, Mr. C. Ward, junr.; Treasurer, Mr. A. Lancaster; General Committee—W. Birnie, A. Duncan, F. Kiernan, R. Millman, W. D. Rough, and W. Moore;

Starter, Mr. L. Sleightholm; Handicappers, Messrs. W. Moore, F. Kiernan, and J. Moffatt, the last-mentioned to be principal Handicapper and the others as advisors; Picnic Committee—Messrs P. Freyberg, F. Cooke, E. Rough and A. Lewis. The Racing Committee elected comprised the Flag Officers and Messrs. Gibbs, W. Moore and C. Ward, junr., Secretary; and the Regatta Committee, in addition to the Flag Officers, also comprised Messrs. Rough (2), Taylor, Millman, Cooke and Lancaster.

The Balance-Sheet shows that the Club has a balance of assets over liabilities of £35 15s. Bd.

Several important measures were passed. The Mark Foy system of starting was adopted for the season. The subscription fee was fixed at a guinea, as in former years up to last, when it was reduced to half a guinea, in the hope of attracting a wider membership. The third class was merged into the second and the 20 minute time limit abolished, and a more sound financial policy in regard to prize money was adopted. Altogether, I think the Club has a good season ahead of it.

The yawl "White Heather" has had her cabin plan re-modelled. The forward bulkhead has been shifted some feet further forward and a galley built in aft, in the place where it should be, so that the steam and smell of cooking can go right out of the hatch instead of banging about in the cabin. A 4 h.p. Colonial engine is to he installed under her cockpit in time for the Christmas cruise to the Sounds, and should be a great boon to her crew.

The "Muritai," G. Bothamley now sole owner, is to be painted black, with a gold band, this season, and will sport a yawl rig. A suit of sails are at present being built for her by Jagger and Harvey.

The 9-ton yawl "Pandora," of Bunbury, W.A., at present on a cruise round the world, arrived at New York on June 23rd last, having taken just 13 months and 20 days for the trip of 22,00 miles.

The 25-foot yawl "Seabird," under command of Thomas Fleming Day, editor of the "Rudder," has arrived at the mouth of the Tiber from New York. Her spars will be removed and she will proceed under power to Rome and take part in the nautical carnival scheduled to take place upon the arrival of the Venice-to-Rome cruise contestants.

I regret to have to record the death of Antony B. Watty, sailmaker, at the age of 81 years. He made good sails, and yachtsmen will feel his loss, in this port at least.