Thrills at the TilleR

Cue (NZERS), Issue 9, 15 October 1944, Page 14

Thrills at the Tilleß

By By

THE irrepressible call of the J- sea runs strong in the Kiwi’s veins. Right through the darkest days of war, many New Zealanders have hastened on the flimsiest pretext to get down to the sea and its ships. Always a healthy interest has been maintained in yachting, and every opportunity has been grasped to indulge in this virile and thrilling pastime. . '•

Without the type of boats in which he gained his love of the sport at home, the enterprising Kiwi overseas worked to remedy the position by building his own craft. In Egypt it - was not long before an NZ influence was discovered among the yachts on the Nile, and in subsequent competition Dominion crews and craft favourably ' upheld the tradition of the sport. More recently yachting has become an integral part of convalescence among ■soldiers, both in Egypt and Italy At an NZ Resi

Home, located at. a beautiful seaside resort near Alexandria, a keen recuperating patient built two or three small yachts. They have given many hours of ceaseless joy, not only to yachtsmen, but to others who have never previously experienced the excitement of sailing., Now at an NZ Convalescent Depot in Southern Italy, the use of a Yugoslav cargo boat has gladdened the hearts of a ' host of ardent and would-be yacht lovers. Named the meaning falcon —the boat represents a novelty in

that its shallow draught, designed for inter-island work, often makes sailing on the Adriatic a tricky business. None the less, favourable light days find more than ample numbers clamouring for a seat, and the open smiles of the bronzed sailors are full proof of the enjoyment this odd old craft affords. ,New Zealanders stationed in the Pacific made full use ,of their

leisure to fashion yachts from native outrigger canoes. They scooped out the hulls and streamlined the outrigger floats, sometimes built

up the freeboard and coyer e d in the deck, stepped masts wit h jungle stems and cut sails out of damaged tents. At Tonga there were some 20 of these boats, ranging from Bft to 18ft.

A canoe club was established, and regular Sunday races were held for a trophy, won eventually by a unit CO.

Sailing such craft demanded expert handling. Before the wind, they had a snappy turn of speed, but would overturn , in a trice, especially if the hamar (float) were lifted as the boat leaned. Running into the weather, however, they were sluggish, but none the less tricky. All sailing was done inside the reef, and as the water was tepid all the year round, capsizing was lightly

treated. Sharks represented no real danger. At New Caledonia several small yachts were specially built to favourite NZ designs. Contests were organised, and many exciting races were witnessed. . . Back home these last five war years, the '* dwindling ranks of yachtsmen have endeavoured to keep the sport active until absent enthusiasts return. Competition has been mainly confined to local contests, and all are keenly awaiting the day when once more they can sit at the tiller of a sailing « dish » or keeler in a good stout breeze. A new-style boat z has aroused wide interest this year. Good things are expected of her, and her appearance in the class contests at Auckland < in the coming season is awaited . with enthusiasm. • She was built in Auckland to an American pattern, 18ft overall, 9ft waterline, and 18in maximum depth.

She scarcely possesses the dryness and comfort characteristic of the better-known 18-footers, but the builder claims yachtsmen who delight in v speed" and ease of handling will get thrills in double doses and still be in no more danger than if sailing an orthodox V-class boat. The hull- is like a gigantic surfboard, with the greatest depth from deck to keel only 18in. The flat.bow is 3ft wide, and this with a 4ft stern gives the boat a «skim dish» effect. She has no sheer. The forward deck curves outward and downward with a streamlined sweep, and the bow is formed where the topsider tapers away from 9in amidships to lin forward. She has a long, narrow cockpit, about the same size as a « zeddie.» All enthusiasts remember the champion Wellington 14-footer Betty, which built up a phenomenal record from the time she took the Sanders Cup from Otago in 1926. Her magnificent sailing qualities have retained for her tne honour of being the wonder boa of the Jellicoe fleet. It was not until the Auckland contender Caress appeared that an equal or Betty was found. There has been

great disappointment that Caress: has not had more opportunity of proving her class. In view of her performances, many maintain that ♦ she would have beaten Betty in a straightout contest. .. The last Sanders Cup series was held at j Auckland in January 1941. Caress made history, by . claiming the cup in three straight wins, the first time this has occurred in the 21 years of the race. Caress also won the cup - for Auckland in the two preceding years. A week before the 1941 Sanders Cup contest, the small fry competed for the Cornwell Cup on the Wanganui River. The holders, Wanganui won the first race of the series, but eventually had to bow to the Christchurch brothers, B. and P. Lamb,' who won with the Blue Peter? . ? ?

It is in these cup races that NZ yachting interest is principally centred. However, wherever salt spray and white wings fly, talk usually veers round to the famed America Cup contests and England's failure ever to build a boat to wrest the trophy from America. It was in 1851 that the first race was sailed, and that grand old doyen of yachting, Sir Thomas Lipton, spent a lifetime of vain endeavour to create a Shamrock to raise England’s pennant. Hebuilt five of these beautiful yachts—a new one for every challenge. « z In the last two of the eight America Cup contests, alwayssailed in American waters, England’s bid was made by. Endeavour I and II but with victory still at bay. The last, race was held in 1937. The American yachts which have successfully defended the cup down the years were Columbia (1899 and 1901), Reliance (1903 Resolute (1920), Enterprise (1930). Rainbow (1934), Ranger (1937).