STORMY SEAS.

Press, Volume LXIII, Issue 18897, 12 January 1927, Page 13

STORMY SEAS.

A YACHTING PROTEST. DISSENSION IN ASSOCIATION. At a meeting of the Canterbury Yachting Association held last evening, G. G. Andrews, Betty's skipper, protested against tho under-sized leading .jili used by the Usher in the trial race held ou January 3rd. Kuch a jib, lie said, had a great advantage over a fullsized oho for windward work. ?dr (.'. J. Treleaven moved that, as the Usher had carried an under-sized jib sail in this trial, which she won, mid as the Usher had also fouled Betty, the race should not bo given to her. The Usher's crew had shown a luck of sailing knowledge. No seconder was found for Mr Trcleaven's motion. "I wish to complain bitterly of the laxity in the working of the Association," said Air Treleaven, "and if that is the way things are to be done I'd sooner be out of it. I wish my protest recorded against the Usher's being awarded this race, for two reasons, one that she fouled the Betty and the other that she carried an midersize sail." Mr J. Waddell: I object to a protest of this nature going on tho minutes. I suggested at a previous meeting that all sails should be measured, but this was turned down. Iu view of the fact that no sails wero measured, it would be a bit hard to penalise the Usher. Mr A. K. Smith objected to Mr Treleaven's remark regarding any lack of sailing knowledge by the Usher's crew causing a foul. They had only the Betty's skipper's statement that he had been fouled, and sTiould hear the evidence of the Usher's skipper, who was not present to defend himself. Mr Treleaven said he merely wished his protest against the Usher being awarded the race. Mr Smith said he did not think that was the right spirit to carry on. The Usher's win made no difference to the result of tho trials. Mr Treleaven: Jf we're going on like this, what's the use of having judges? Mr Smith: And what's the use of the Association? Certain members of the Association never do anything. The discussion was not continued. A Foul Alleged. G, G. Andrews, Betty's skipper, also wrote alleging that his craft was fouled by the Usher in the trial race on January 3rd. His reputation had suffered as a result of "incorrect reports in the papers," which led the public to think Betty fouled the Usher. Mr Eobinson, who judged the race, said that he was too far away to state definitely what occurred, but it appeared to him that the Usher fouled Betty. It was doeided to hold the protest over ponding an enquiry into the circumstances of the alleged foul.