YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 19805, 2 March 1928, Page 13

YACHTING

[By Foe’abd Hanb-I

FIXTURES. March 3,—Ravensbourne regatta. March 3.—Port Chalmers Club races. March 10 —North-east Harbor Club, ill-comers’ Yacht Race. March 17.—Moffat Cup race. April 16. —Broad Bay Club race*. WEEK-END TIDES. Saturday.—Dunedin, 2.19 a.m., 2.46 p.ra.; Port Chalmers, 1.49 a.m., 2.16 j.m.’; Heads, 1.9 a.m., 1.35 p.m. Sunday.—Dunedin, 2.11 a.m., 2.86 p.m.; Port Chalmers, 1.41 son., 2.6 p.m.; Heads, 1.1 a.m., 1.26 p.m. CONTEST JOTTINGS. Otago had strong representation; both in numbers and officials. Apart from tho crew, only one Auckland yachtsmen was at Stewart Island. One and all voted that the islanders have hearts of gold. Not even tho cities could give such spontaneous welcomes. Apart from the racing, life at Halfmoon Bay last week was a round of pleasure. A great welcome and dance, a smoko concert, a picnic and cruise round Paterson’s Inlet, two more dances and a final social comprised the entertainment programme. Even if the social fixtures had been reduced, the visitors could not havo helped enjoying themselves. There are hundreds of beauty spots on the island, and the visit,was for everyone, save the pressmen (who also had to •‘cover” the Larsen wreck) a glorious holiday. Not one would complain it in the near future another contest were heht at the island. Mine Host of Stewart Island was Arthur B. Moffett, the commodore of the club. And a fine host lie was. Mr Moffett has made many friends in his tripping round New Zealand with the Murihiku in his quest for the Sanders Cup, and he can count on an added legion, following on his care of visitors at the island. He is a sport at all times, and a genial man. Arthur Moffett was everybody’s friend, and ail yachtsmen spent pleasant minutes with him, his famed prelude to all conversations being; “Just between you and me and tho four walls of this island." At the Lyttelton Club’s rooms last yemit was “ between the four walls of this room.” Commodore Moffett is the recipient of congratulations from every visitor on his conduct of the island’s biggest attraction yet. The boat owners at the island had tho interest of the contest at heart. The official boats were most serviceable and comfortable, and tho skippers gave every assistance. It was a particularly happy party aboard the starter’s launch, and at the conclusion of the races the skipper was given three hearty cheers by the visitors for his care during the week. On this launch were the starters (Messrs J. B. L. Jukes, of Wellington, and H. Watson, of Stewart Island) and the timekeeper (Mr W. 0. Martin, Broad Bay’s commodore). These officials gave every satisfaction. Although not a delegate to the conference, Mr Martin was appointed starter. It was a tribute to his skill in that department. The judges (Messrs A. B. Moffett, John Moffatt, and H. Camp (Otago) had no cause to act throughout tho racing. George Kellett and bis crew (A f Booth, A. Dawson, A. Hill, C. M. French) were a happy family. George fully justified himself as a capable skipper, and under the circumstances nrt the greatest skipper alive could have beaten Betty. What pleased other visitors was George Kellett’s willingness to take every opportunity in a race. His willingness to try anything won him the Smith Gup. • He drew Wellesley 11., and was well back at the entrance to Ha 11 moon Bay after the long trip down the inlet and oyer tho open water past Harold’s Point. In the bay the wind was ridiculously fluky, some boats beating and others running. George set his spinnaker on the beat (!) and the extra sail power allowed him to boat J. Patrick, who was sailing Eileen. Mrs Kellett and the two little daughters were delighted spectators of a thrilling finish. The cup will be a pleasant trophy of one of the best trips the Ravensbourne skipper has had. “ I havo attended every contest from the first in Auckland, and 1 have never had a better time,” was George’s opinion of the Stewart Island visit. Incidentally, Eileen’s skipper has been either a member of the crew or skipper in every contest.

Ab. Booth was tha comedian of the Otago party, and he amused all the guests at the boarding house. On Sunday morning, Ab. attired himself in a black frock coat_, a wide-brimmed black hat, and a clerical collar, and visited the rooms of Otago visitors. The hour was early, and the yachtsmen poured their imprecations on Ab. But ha opened his book and pacified them with Scriptural readings. We could hardly believe our eyes when the happy Otago for’ard hand arrived at the wharf for the picnic all dressed up in a white suit. One envious person had tha audacity to cry : “ Ice cream! ” RAVENS BOURNE REGATTA HANDICAPS. Good entries have been received for the annual regatta at Ravensbourno tomorrow afternoon. The West Harbor Band will bo in attendance, and visitors will bo provided with afternoon tea and launch trips. The entries and handicaps are as follow: Sailing Dinghy Race, 12ft din and under. —Lassie, Erode, Aranui, Aloha, Colleen, Harlequin, Scud, Chancej Spray. Yacht Race, 18ft and under.—Mavis, Agnes, Eunice, Vivian, Experiment, Sea Hawk. All-comers’ Yacht Race.—Shadow, Winifred, May, Eileen (14-footer), Kia Ora, Eileen, Vera, Kia Ora (14-footer). Motor Boats, 7 miles per hour and under.—Grace Darling scr, Dolphin scr, Ugie Jmin, Vyella bruin 40sec, Shirley Gmiu, Maureen (jrnin, Rewi 7min, Tui 111. 7min dOsec, Coastguard llmin. Motor Boats, over 7 miles per hour.—Ngaio scr, Spitfire scr, Stella 2min 4Usec, Islay 2miu 4(Jsec, Laura dmin 4(Jsec, Gloaming 7min, Eclipse Bmin, Sylvia Omiii dOsec, Silvocea lOminj Fan llmin, Southern Star llmin dOsec, Ripple Idmin, Jewel lomin. Outboard Motor Boats.—Fiasco, Jade, Miss Whippet, Aloha. To be handicapped on day of race. Speed Boats. —Miss Bruce scr, Mystery lOsec. Maiden Fours Rowing Race.—North End, Queen’s Drive, Otago, Port Chalmers (2). Youths’ Fours Rowing Race.—North End (2), Queen’s Drive, Otago, Port Chalmers (2). MARK FOY—MERITS AND DEMERITS. “ Has the Mark Foy system of starting come up to the expectations of those whose efforts were responsible for this system being adopted?” asks a boat owner. For several seasons this system has, been tried out in our harbor,_ and the results have not been very satisfactory. True, in a few isolated cases _ close finishes have been recorded, but in tha majority of races minutes have separated the contestants at the finish. The idea of this system was that the spectators would have no difficulty in finding the winner of a race, the boats being placed in order of finish. This, however, is practically the only point in its favor, he says. From a competition point of view the race is over when the handicaps are declared! He knows the speed of his boat and also that of the other contesting boats, and if he is a keen racing man he will know, fairly accurately the strength of the tide on the particular course over which he is going to race. A few minutef

with a pencil ami paper and ho has the results before him. So much lor the man who races to win (most ol them do) He will compete even when ho can see that ho has no possible chance of being placed, but will be drive his boat all out? Now, take the man who is new at the game—the man whom wo wish to encourage. He perhaps possesses a slow boat, and Is handicapped somewhere near the limit. Before half the course is covered ho is overtaken by some of the later starters, and the interest in the race is gone for him. Will ho continue to get the best out of his boat? If it were possible to set all the engines and seal them during a race tins system would bo ideal, but there is nothing to prevent an owner of a fast boat once be has passed the fleet from jogging along to win by a narrow margin and still keep something up bis sleeve for the next race.

Under the Mark Foy system the handicappcr has an almost impossible task set him, and the knocks that are thrown at him after a race should in tho majority* of cases bo directed at the competitors. With the sealed handicap system—that is, the handicaps aro made up and handed by_ the handicapper to the Sailing Committee, who do not open them until after the race has commenced—most of these defects are eliminated. With all boats starting from scratch, contestants must go right out. Tho man with the fastest boat will. finish far ahead of tho fleet, but he has to keep her going, and the owner of the slowest boat, even thougli ho may be finishing half an hour after tho first boat, is still in the race, for, having no knowledge of the handicaps, a second one way or the other may mean the losing or winning of the race to him.

It is lime -Unit tho sealed handicap was reverted to, for in club races entries are difficult to get; and also numbers, not a small minority either, will not start when they see that they have no chance. Can you blame them? BOAT HARBOR SMASH. An unfortunate accident happened at the boat harbor on Saturday last, Mr G. Campbell’s launch Nomad being badly holed by tho Grey Seal, and had not assistance been handy to put her on the hard site would have quickly filled and sank. The accident happened in a very si«ti pic manner, but it demonstrated bow careful one must be when operating a power boat in enclosed waters such as the boat harbor. The owner of tho Grey Seal was not on board, but two members of her crew were taking her down to Port Chalmers. Not being familiar with the engine, some difficulty was experienced in starting. Twice when being put into gear the engine stopped. The third time, unfortunately, the gear was not disengaged, with the result that when the engine started the boat rammed the Nomad, which was lying on her moorings, tearing away the exhaust outlet and splintering the planking at the waterline. The boat harbor' was almost deserted on Sunday, the bad weather keeping most of the boats on their moorings. Iris came up from Broad Bay, making good progress against the wind and Tide. A fair number of boats are up on the Yacht Club’s slip at present undergoing overhauls, amongst them being Kelvin, Marie. - Viking, Albatross. Ailsa, Squib, and tVaipori.