YACHTING.

Dominion, Volume 6, Issue 1687, 1 March 1913, Page 16

YACHTING.

[Bl MAINSnEET.] TO POBT UNDERWOOD & BACK. March B.—Ladies' Race, P.N.Y.C. Maroh 21—Easter Monday, P.N.Y.C. picnic. April s.—Consolation Itace, ' P.N.Y.C. (gen. handicap). • The Ocean Race. The raw to Port Underwood and back between the old-timer, modern and ultramodern boats proved to be an excellent contcst, as it was expected it would bo .Although everyone seemed to favour Waitangi, I could not seo much difference betwee'n the prospects of each vessel, and consequently was not going to bo rash enough to prophecy with the aid of many exceedingly helpful "its." Had the race been over a harbour course, then no doubt tho task would havo been much easier, but, to anyone with a passing knowledge of the Strait, it will bo apparent_that the constantly changing conditions in a long course such as Inst Saturday's may favour now one boat and then another, and especially is this 80 when three such differing tvpes of boat are competing. Putting it another way, the varying weather conditions even up tho difference between the class of boat.

The mark-buoy in Kakapo Bay was rounded by-Ailsa at 7;20 a.m. on Sunday morning, with Mat.ni.gi, and Wailangi in that order, a quarter of on hour later. Just at the time when Wellington yachtsmen thought that they would "be there," viz., about, nightfall, 011 Saturday, the yachts were about 15 miles off and whistling for ft breeze. Then it became .it drifting match until tho morning, when tho buoy at Port Underwood was rounded. Waitangi appears to'have had hard luck in drifting so far north, but she had this remedied in part by bringing, the breeze down witlf her in tho morning. Ailsu's performance was certainly a good one, ami Messrs. Hamill Bros, are to bo congratulated 011 securing this coveted trophy. Tho Ailsa and her crew might well stand for that line picture of C. Napier Hemy's, "youth." Matangi sailed an excellent course, and must be said to have ptrt up a fine performance under the tryirfg conditions of Saturday evening.

The Waitangi, of course, is admitted to be "just the boat" for such an event as this, and would linve done better still with a topsail up. The short time elapsing between tho arrival of each boat, viz.,. llmin., over such a long course' seemed to show that they were pretty evenly matched.

"Bad Sailors." t Kuniour is again current regarding the "sulTerings" of one or two men who were rendered "liors de combat" by tho junketing about in the Strait. Surely, vaclitsmen should know by this time that only tho very best sailors should be picked for a trans-Strait event. If there is any doubt about the possession of the above qualification, then it should be a matter of good senso 011 the pnrt of tho persons affected to stand down for someono better suited in that respect. Of course, this does not refer to mere "passing qualms" or occasional attacks (as they generally do not incapacitate), but tothatreal "whole hog dead-to-the-world" sort, of feeling which is tho lot of a few unfortunate sufferers. The Indecision of Yachtsmen, It ( is somewhat puzzling to "Main, sheet' to find that owners again seem to be -unable to make up their minds aa to whether they will enter for the Ocean Knee or not. Surely, an event such as this is really the "catch of tho season," and owners should enter earlv and trust 0 , cI ? £? nr , ra "K0 f«r a suitablo shipload ot hands." It is an astonishing tiling, too, that 011 tho day of tho raco numbers of yachtsmen express tho most earnest wishes to bo taking part. The places on tho boats aro always over ap« plied for, and I feel quite sure that H owners would only trust 11 little more to luck 111 this matter they would not be disappointed. The Lowry Bay Habit, It seems as if yachtsmen have a mortgage on this place. livery Sunday, for weeks past, has seen this beautiful little spot rendered moro beautiful still by tlio prosenco of a number of yachts and launches. Of course, the prevailing nor'wester is responsible for this state of tilings. Doubtless a few fine southerlies with a long heaving ground swell would bo much appreciated by tho whitewinged ileet. Saturday last was uiie such, and a few yachts took the opportunity of accompanying the competitors 111 tho Ocean Kaco down towards tho Heads. Return of the Mlna, ( i*'' l '- "Jack" Martindale's fine launch Alina has returned to tho Boat Ilarbour after her sojourn of about 18 months ut the Chnthams. This craft, which was built a couple of years back by Mr. Bringins, is 32ft. over all, with 9ft. beam, and has a Thorneycroft engine, which runs admirably. , SIIO has experienced some very hard "blows" round about tho Chathanis in the stormy weather that prevails down there, but, appai entlv, they have not troubled her. She '19 ketch rigged, and possessed of ■ considerable sailing ability.