YACHTING

Dominion, Volume 20, Issue 51, 24 November 1926, Page 8

YACHTING

(Bv '

“Nereus.”)

Doings in Evans Bay. The Evans Bay Club, which opened its season last Saturady, would seem to have a prosperous lew months ahead o fit, if one is to judge from remarks passed on its opening day. Mr A. A. George, the patron of the club, remarked that although he had been connected with it for a number of years, lie had never known it to look back. Tho club was always climbing upwards, and there was no doubt that the coming season would eclipse all previous eil'orts of the club. Thisdoes not seem to be too optimistic a prophecy, for it would be hardly possible for any club to show more of good spirit, of ambition, and of sijortemanship, than, is to be found amongst vaglitsmen in the bay. The club has this year every prospect of a good season, which will bo enhanced by the fact that members will have the American Cup to race for. This trophy will be awarded to the boat which secures tho greatest aggregate of points throughout the season. From the point of view of the sepctator, races in the bay will, this year, be more interesting than in the past in virtue of the club’s decision to alter the course for the keel boats. The. races will, in the futuro, he contested m full view of the public almost all the time. The spot furthest removed from the anchorage at which they will touch will be the buoy at Point Jeringbam. Tn coming to this decision, the committee was moved by a desire to allow the man on the shore to see all of the race that he possibly could, and by a realisation of the fact that it is upon the confidence of the public that clubs rely for their active existence. The mam resut of this decision will be that there will be a good crowd of spectators watching a race all the time it is in progress, and that interest in the event will not fade owing to tho boats passing out of sight. . . During the season five Sunday p’cmcs iind outings will be held by the Evans Bav Club, on the following dates: December 12. .January 9. January 30, February 90. and March 30. Intending passengers are advised that on each occasio nthey must be at the club house by 9.30 a.m.. otherwise they may be left behind. Boat or Crew?

At a recent meeting o? the Wellington Provincial Yacht, and Motor-boat Association, the question of selecting a boat and crew to represent Wellington in the Sanders Cup contest at Lyttelton in February was discussed at length. The course which should l>e followed by the selectors was the subject of several suggestions. Seme delegates considered that the skipper should be allowed some voice in the selection of his crew, while one considered that the selectors would be better advised to p,ick the boat first, making the selection of tho crew a secondary consideration. ■ It was at length decided to allow the selectors an absolutely free hand in the matter. Thus a crew will not be selected from any particular boat, but will be chosen according to the ability of each man to fill the position allotted This decision should meet with -the approval of yachtsmen, as it is entirely in accordance with the object of the donors of the trophy, which was to determine annuallv not- the best 14footer, but the best all-round yachtsmen. Jottings.

Interest in yachting in Wellington, which is always keen, will lie made even keener this year by the Commodore Cup. This trophy has been presented by a number of members and supporters of ihe Evans Bay Club for competition amongst all the yachts in tho harbour. • AVellington' yachtsmen will heartily commend this generous action, which should help considerably towards promoting a feeling of goo< ■ fellowship between yachtsmen ot all C1 The new 33-foot launch which has recently been brought by Mr. John Hutchinson from Auckland, is looking in fine condition.

The opening of the 1325-27 season of the Port Nicholson Motor Boat Club took place last Sunday, a picnic being held at Shelly Bay. The weather could scarcely have been more favourable, and the day’s outing was a most enjoyable one.

Next Saturday the Evans Bay Club will co-opcrato with the Caledonian .Society, which will then bold its fete at Kilbirnie Park. The first race for cen-tre-boards and launches will be held by the club, and .in order that the boats will be in full view of those on the park during the whole of the race the course has been specially laid out for the occasion.

Auckland and the Cup. “Speedwell,” -writing in the Auckland “Star” in reference to the Auckland, trials for the Sanders Cup contest, considers that the choice this year seems to be limited to Avalon and Rona, both of which he thinks will come to the line in good nick. Queen March, owing to the absence of her owner in F.nglsnd, will net be a competitor this year, he points out, and the greatest interest will centre in the meeting of Avalon and Rona. Both boats are in the pink of condition as far as hull and sails are concerned, each having a new Britishmade suit of sails. In addition to this they will both be sailed by veteran skippers and crews. As in the past, Avalon will be under the control of J. Patrick, while A. Matthews will look after Rena.

Konini Changes Hands. It has been decided to sell the Konini, which was Napier’s Sanders Cup representative last year, says “Mainsheet” in the Napier “Daily Telegraph.” It is stated that a purchaser has been found for the boat, which will no doubt race in the third class. The writer makes no mention of a 14-footer which might replace the Konini, nor does he state whether the Napien Sailing Club intends to enter a challenge for the trophy this year.

Origin of the Sanders Cup. Mr. AV. A. Wilkinson, a well-known New Zealand yachtsman, has contributed an interesting review of the various classes of yachts to the Auckland “Star,” in the course of which he gives a brief historical outline of the present Sanders Cup contest. For real, good sport and keen sailing, he says, nothing can excel thfe present numerous classes of open and half, decked boats all under 20 feet. Most important of these is the 14 foot onedesign or Jellicoe class boat, evolved by the writer in 1916, with the idea of encouraging youths to build and sail their own boats. Rather slow to get started, when once started the class quickly grew, especially when Lord Jellicoe decided to take it up, and had the Iron Duke built, which he raced very consistently all the time he was in the Dominion. The class then became popular, not only with lioys, but with experienced yachtsmen in eery yachting centre in NewZealand, and at Easter, 1921. a challenge was received from Dunedin to sail a series of races on the Waitemata between the Dunedin-owned Heather and the best boat in Auckland. Iron Duke was selected to represent Auckland, and out of five races Heather won three. In the meantime, a valuable cup was presented for tho class by Walker and Hall, who named it after New Zealand’s hero. Lieutenant Sanders, V.C. In 1922. Desert Gold was sent to Dunedin, and after a close series of seven races she brought, the coveted trophy back with her. Tho third contest, sailed on the Waitemata. resulted in awin for Rona after five races. The fourth contest was held at Wellington, and again Rona won, the weather being at first very heavy, and afterwards very light. The fifth annual contest was held at Auckland, and was won in a decisive manner by Otago s champion. lona, after four races. Last year the races were held at Dunedin, when the Canterbury boat Betty won after five close races with Avalon. The net contest will bo held at Lyttelton early in February, when a new boat, now nearing completion at , Charles Bailey’s shed, will represent FouHdand.