CLASSIFICATION FOR YACHT RACING.

Auckland Star, Volume XXXVI, Issue 38, 14 February 1905, Page 2

CLASSIFICATION FOR YACHT RACING.

(To the Editor.) Sir, — Your correspondent "Marco Polo" in your issue of the 3rd inst. voices the opinion of a number of yachtsmen. It is a farce to expect keel boats to compete with those of the patiki type, and until regatta committees and yacht clubs so classify the boats so as to keep each stamp in her own class they cannot expect the support of the owners of keel yachts. These yachtsmen j pay the same entrance fees and the same | subscriptions to the club funds, so why should they not be given a race to themselves. Every regatta committee and yacht club puts a special race for I patikie on its programme. What have I patikis done for yachting? Has Auckland j I gained ber reputation as a boat-building centre from patikis? I think not. Th* Rainbow. Bona, Sunbeam and Meteor, not to mention our local boats, are not patikis. so why should skim dishes be allowed to sweep the board of prizes. The race on Anniversary Day quoted by "Marco Polo" was little short of a farce. I know of owners who refused to enter keel boats when they found that patikis were eligible to race, and their judgment proved correct, for in the light fluky wind prevailing last Regatta Day the skim dishes had everything their own way. A good race would result among such small keel boats as Bona. Hauiti, Kotare. Rewi, Mahoe. Mavourneen. Van ora, etc.. bnt when skim dishes arc ndlowed to compete the race is nor. worthy of the name. Trusting that yacht clubs will give the matter their earnest consideration. —I am. etc. KEEL.