YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 19787, 10 February 1928, Page 13

YACHTING

[By Fok’aed Hand.]

FIXTURES. February 11.—N.E.H. Club’s pffl* nic. . , February 18.—0. Y. Club races; third Paterson Cup race. February 25.—Strang Cup race; Port Chalmers Ladies’ Day. N.E.H* Club’s races. March 3.—Port Chalmers Club races* March 10 —North-east Harbor Club* All-comers’ Yacht Race. March 17.—Moffat Cup race. April 16.—Broad Bay Club races. Sanders Cup Trials at Stewart Is« land.—February 17, February 18* February 20, and February 21. WEEK-END TIDES. The following times are according td daylight saving hours: — Saturday. Dunedin, 8.43 a.m.* 9,4 p.m.; Port Chalmers, 8.13 a.m.* 8.34 p.m.; Heads, 7.33 a.m., 7.54p.m* Sunday.—Dunedin, 9.27 a.m., 9.49 p.m.; Port Chalmers, 8.57 a.m., 8.19 p.m.; Heads, 8.17 a.m., 7.39 p.m.

BLUE RIBAND EVENT.

NEXT WEEK’S CUP, CONTEST.

Yachting interest throughout New! Zealand next week will be centred oni Stewart Island, where the crack four-teen-footers will bo racing for the Sanders Cup. The competitors will be;— Canterbury.—Betty. Otago.—Eileen. Auckland.—Avalon. ' Wellington.—Wellesley 11. Southland.—Murihiku 11.

Fine racing should bo seen, and thaj result is in doubt. Otago and Wellington will have their new boats racing* while the other provinces will have worthy representation. During thd racing the ‘ Star ’ will publish daily, special reports of the racing. , Otago supporters are hopeful, huh not sanguine. There is a wellgrounded feeling that Eileen has not been tried out. The trials finished perhaps too early, and since then the representative has been sailing alone.Her skipper and crew would pick up few points on their lone sailing. Connpetition should have been _ entered into, and it is a pity that Eileen has not been started at the various regattas against the all-comers. A suitable trial would have been made in the big yacht race last Saturday at St. Leonard’s-Burkes. The arrangement was that Eileen was to be ready for polishing on Tuesday of this week, and the boat could have been raced at the West Harbor regatta. However, an early start was made with the polishing, and air Harry Nees has made a splendid job* Yachtsmen owe much to Mr Nees for In's rare of the boat, and also to Mr B H. Nees, who arranged that his son should visit Stewart Island .and take care of Eileen as he took car© of the successful Inna at Auckland. “For’ard Hand” and other supporters wish Eileen and her crew ©very SUpr-eRF. Mr A. Wiseman, who will have charge of the skipper and crew, leaves for Stewart Island by to-mor-row’s boat from Bluff. The veteran skipper’s advice will doubtless b© found invaluable. J _ This will be the eighth contest tor the Sanders Cup, and Otago has the proud record of baying been represented on every occasion. Past winners are;— 1921.—Heather (Otago), at Audi-; ]9‘22. Desert Gold (Auckland), at I Dunedin. . , , , . , : 1923. Bona (Auckland), at Auck-o la 1924.—80na (Auckland), at Wellington . , ~ - 1 per,.—lona (Ota got. at Auckland.1926.—Betty (Canterbury), at Dnn011927.—Betty (Canterbury), at Lyttelton. ___ AROUND THE CLUBS. O-Y.C. The next aeries ol club races will take place to-morrow week. Intending entrants are reminded that entries close to-morrow evening. The events will consist of races for 12ft 6m ana under sailing boats, a general handicap, for yachts, outboard unlimited boats, a B class heat for the Paterson Cup, and a general handicap lor inboard motor boats. Lark was hauled up last week and given a coat of paint. She was relaunched in time lor the fet, Leonards regatta. . .. Viking is in the water again after, a-i overhaul, and Minnow is hauled up for a dry out. NORTH-EAST HARBOR. A large number of North-east Earbo- - boating enthusiasts made the trip to St. Leonards on Saturday for the regatta. . Silvocca was slipped for cleaning ana relaunched again last week. Tui 1. is to have her engine installed this week. Lon Rudd and his crew deserve commendation lor the time and patience they have spent on the fitting out of their craft. Her namesake, Tui H. is still on the slip, though her crew hope to have her. ailoat shortly. _ , The club’s picnic will bo held tomorrow at the Portobello fish hatcheries. Launches will leave the bay at 1.30 p.m. On Wednesday week a social will be given and a presentation made to the local repreentati ve in the Cornwell Cup competition. On Sunday the Experiment, Sea Hawk, and Wild Cat visited the hay and made a fine sight as they ran back with spinnakers set to the north-, caster.

ST. LEONARDS-BURKES REGATTA' The revival of tlie St. LeonardsBurkes regatta was a distinct success, and it is certain that the regatta will again become an annual fixture. The committees pulled together as one for one aim—a success—and the entire success of the racing and social side was compensation for their efforts. The commodores and flag officers from other clubs were present, and a number acted in valuable official capacities, Commodore Wiseman (Port Chalmers) and Commodore W. 0. Martin (Broad Bay) deserving special credit for their work as judge and timekeeper respectively. The racing was keen, for which tha regatta committee must bo indebted to the support given by the owners and bv the handicappers (Messrs A. D. Asher (yachts) and A. Lindsay (motor boats). Full reports of the racing were given in the ‘ Star ’ last Saturday, All that need be added is praise of the conduct of the fixture and wishes for a happy repetition next year. A PROMISING YOUTH. In Hugh Riddell Otago has a youth who has the making of a Sanders Cup skipper. Various men prominent in the sport intend making overtures to Riddell to take the helm in a Sanders Cup boat next year with A. Wiseman as his tutor. This writer’s opinion of Riddell’s capabilities was greatly enhanced when lie watched the youth sailing Mavis at the St. Leonards-Burkes regatta last Saturday. To the critical his handling of Mavis was one of the hig feature* of the regatta. Ho sailed a perfect

course, and worked his mainsail splendidly. What is more, ho had command over his crew, the spinnaker work being inspiring even to older yachtsmen. Opinions differ as to the most able and consistent crew at the Cornwell Cup contest. Some say tho Otago boys; other say Auckland. But Riddell showed last Saturday that he is one ot tho most promising lads seen out on the harbor for years. The Sanders Cup contest was instituted with tho aim that youths would sail the boats, and Riddell is a likely boy to take tho helm against the pick of the dominion’s yachtsmen. With Alf. Wiseman as his tutor, ho would learn many points under a line master. THE OUTBOARDERS. Last Saturday’s race at St. Lconards-Burkes proved one thing—that tho present typo of outboard motor boat now racing on tho harbor is unsuitable. Tho three competitors suffered from water trouble. ’The course appeared to be smooth, or comparatively smooth, but tho little racers made heavy weather. As stated in this column before, the outboarders should bo a strong and popular class, but until a class able to race on fine days is evolved the outboarders will ho losing their popularity. ft is understood that experiments arc being made by Mr A. C. Paterson on his boats, and it is quite possible that boats of proved design in America will bo built for Otago. CORNWELL CUP CONTROVERSY. “In last Tuesday’s issue [ Speedwell’s’ contention that the decision to re-sail tho tilth race between Auckland and Otago was not. in accordance with yachting procedure was again attacked ” (states the Auckland ‘Star’). “Rule 3 was quoted as one of the deciding factors in making this decision. It reads: ‘Boat not to he interfered with. 1 If a meaning can be inferred in this rule to give power to rosail a race properly won, then all f can say is that the ruling savors of the trite saying: ‘Another time around, to Maori horse not abend.’ ” WILD MISSTATEM ENTS. In his reply this week to “Eor’ard Hand ” and the Otago Association Mr 0. Moller (Auckland) talks ot a lack of good taste on tho part of tho Otagoites. We hold our head in shame. Mr Moller suggests that our sporting spirit is not good. Dear me! And tins from an armchair administrator who dives off the paths_ ol arguments to indulge in personalities. Mr Moller knows nothing of “ For’ard Hand’s ” yachting experience, as this writer did not reside :n Dunedin when Mr Moller was hero, and has met the ex-Dunedin man only at tho Cornwell Cup contests at Dunedin and Lyttelton. Still, that does not deter the authoritative ptesident of the Cornwell Cup Committee from making some positively absurd statements. “hor’ard Hand” has carefully refrained from attacking Mr Moller on the grounds of his lack of yachting experience. Tho criticisms have been made ot Ins ignorance of yachting rules. “ For’ard Hand” admits that lie did not know Mr Moller before the I‘J2G contest, and therefore could offer no first-hand evidence of Mr Mollcr’s inexperience in practical sailing. Seeing that Mr Moller has thought it “good taste” to attack another’s ability when lie has no knowledge whatever of his opponent’s qualifications, this writer has made wide inquiries m Dunedin, and tho old-timers had a laugh when they wore _ asked if Air Moller had done much sailing. He was seldom in a crew when he lived in Dunedin. Bor years “Bor’ard Hand” took a practical interest in yachting, sailing in 14-foot one-designs and other craft as a member of crows. And being a newspaper man at the same time, it was necessary that he should make a shif.lv of tho rules.

At ail times this column is open to controversies, but be is a poor sport who will introduce the personal element. As regards Air Moller and his personalities, this is a case of the biter being bitten. -Mr Moller persists in making wild statements of misstatements and of inexperience, but be is without grounds. Incidentally, Air Moller has little grounds for complaining of misstatements. His signature to a, telegram announcing that tho Contest Committee's decision was unanimous can be used as a barrage to that spluttering bomb, and some months ago ho accused “ For’ard Hand ” of misstatements, and evidenced a change in opinions in the yachting notes in tho Dunedin ‘ Star ’ during the 1926 contest. He said tho writer .iai “ For’ard Hand.” It wasn’t him, for this writer was not contributing notes to the ‘Star’ till the following season! WEIGHT OF SPARS. tho following formula for finding the weight of spars may be useful;— Find the area of each end, add together, and divide by two, multiply the half by the length of fbo spar. If the spar tapers at each end, take three measurements and divide by three. The weight can then be found by multiplying the solid contents by the weight in pounds per cubic loot of the wood the spars are made of. The diameter of a circle, multiplied by 3.14159, equals the circumference; therefore the circumference divided by 3.14159 equals the diameter. The area, of a circle is diameter, multiplied by diameter, multiplied by 0.7854. Thus, say, a spar is 4in diameter, then 4 x I equals 16 x 0.7854 equals 12.564, or just a fraction over 124 square inches. FLOTSAM AND JETSAM, “Thosespeed boats must be very annoying in the early morning,” said Mr H. R. Alackonzie, chairman of tho Auckland Harbor Board. “The board should take some action.” The Otago Harbor Board bad written asking what action the Auckland Board was taking to compel the use of mufflers on outboard motor boats, when they were not actually competing in a race. The New Zealand Power Boat Association had also written offering to support any action the board might take to compel the use of mufflers in the harbor limits. The question was referred to tnc bond in committee. The Alotor Yacht Club of Tasmania probably bolds a unique position in the Australian motor boating world, m so far as that its racing rules lurne been adopted by the Tasmanian Regatta Council as a universal code to be used by all affiliated Regatta Associations in Southern Tasmania (says the ‘ Australian Motor' Boat and Yachting Monthly’). This means that, at least, a. dozen associations will in future use the Motor Yacht Club’s rules, and as the club also supplies the haudicapnor to the Tasmanian Regatta Council, and annually conducts two races subsidised by regatta associations, it can safely bo said to occupy a position held by no other club. LAUNCH OWNERS BEWARE. Consequent upon the expansion in the consumption of motor spirit there is an increased danger from spirit vapor incidental to the filling of the fuel tanks of launches. The vapor, which is given off at ordinary temperatures, and is much heavier than air, does not rise or diffuse as is the case with most other gases, but possesses the peculiar property of flowing or “creeping.” It will he readily realised that the volatile vapor from motor spirit presents a very potential source of dancer, especially

during the filling of the fuel tanks. In this operation gas or vapor is displaced trom the tanks, which may he ignited oven at a considerable distance, and the flame travel along it with light-ning-like rapidity back to the tank. Persons are therefore warned that Ailing should not be attempted either whilst the engine is running, or whilst in the vicinity of naked lights. Neither should the operation he carried out in the presence of any person smoking. Even a spark from a loose terminal, or a short-circuit in a wire, gives sufficient heat to ignite vapor, and therefore no electrical fittings should he touched when replenishing tanks.