YACHTING

Evening Star, Issue 20060, 28 December 1928, Page 11

YACHTING

[By For’akd Hand.] YACHTSMAN’S CALENDAR. January I.—Broad Bay Regatta. January 12.—Otago Yacht Club races. Ravensboume Club races. January 19.—North-East Harbour Club races. January 26.—North-East Harbour Club races. February 9.—Moffatt Cup race. February 14.—Sanders Cup contest; at Akaroa. February 16.—North-East Harbour Club races. February 23.—St. Leonards Regatta; Otago Yacht Club races. March 23.—Otago Yacht Club '(harbour race). WEEK-END TIDES. Saturday.—Heads; 5.6 a.in., 5.35 p.m.. Port Chalmers; 5.46 a.m., 6.15 p.m. Dunedin: 6.16 a.m., 6.45 p.m. Sunday,—Heads: 6.2 a.m,, 6.30 p.m. Port Chalmers: 6.42 a.m., 7.10 p.m. Dunedin: 7.12 a.m., 7.40 p.m. MACANDREW BAY REGATTA. An unsteady breeze, which veered from north-east to south-east prevailed lor the greater part of Boxing Day, and made the sailing events at the Macandrew Bay. regatta very slow. Tliis was particularly noticeable during the bite afternoon, when the •allcomers and 14 footers wore called off after only one round of the course had been completed. The launch races were got off on scheduled time, and some good finishes wore witnessed. it was unfortunate that the speed boat championship could not be held owing to the majority of the boats not being completed. The' Mystery, however, was brought down from town and showed lior paces during the afternoon. “ For’ard Hand” compliments Mr A. Lindsay for iho manner in which tho arrangements on the flagship were controlled. Early in the day things looked very black owing to the unavoidably late arrival of the Modern, but Mr Lindsay carried on aboard the Marata until her arrival, and then transferred to the official flagship. BROAD BAY REGATTA. Excellent entries have been received for tho Broad Bay regatta, which is to bo held on New Year’s Day, and given fine weather the fixture should be one of the most successful in the harbour. Tho programme includes events for launches of all classes, and yachts, while the usual rowing and swimming events are a’ > included. FLOTSAM AND , JETSAM. Aisla look the water at tho boat harbour last week, and showed quite a good l turn of speed with her new Sunbeam engine. The Sanders Cup representative, Eileen, has been out cm several occasions recently, and her skipper is sparing no pains to get her ill Tie best trim possible for the forthcoming races. It is said that Mr George Andrews, who made a name lor himself as skipper of flic Canterbury 14-footei Betty, lias built a new ontboarder ol tho Speedboy type. This craft is jointed so that the forward part can be taken off and packed into the after ■portion for easier transport^ Another Andrews production made

her first appearance on Boxing Day, when Mr W. J. P. M'Cullough’s Miss Heather appeared at the Macandrew Bay regatta, tl was Mr M‘Cullough’s intention to race in the outboard event, but lie did not arrive in time to start. The craft, however showed a good turn of speed, which was derived from an Elto Quad motor. lan Troleaven is still the only spinnaker hand for Canterbury (says “Stern” in the Christchurch ‘Star’)) and probably the best in New Zealand. His work in the last trial was beyond praise, and, nothing more could have been done than what he did. His deftness was in no way due to superior tackle, for the gear with which lie worked was in no way above the average. WELLINGTON TRIALS. According to a northern exchange, the Wellington association’s sole selector (Mr F. W. France) has trodden upon the toes of several of the yachting fraternity of that centre, .for “ Alainsail ” writes in the ‘Evening Post ’ that “ For nearly a week a question has been argued in the boat harbour and elsewhere among those interested in the Sanders Cup trials: Was the sole selector (Mr E. W. France) within his rights in ; reposing to eliminate the Wellesley I. and the Clyde from the trial set down for Tuesday evening? Jn the writer’s opinion, Mr France was quite justified in confining the race to the three boats which had registered the best performances in the series to date. It was not a question of introducing something which lias not been tried before on this harbour. Boats have been eliminated in previous seasons, and undoubtedly with good results, since their absence has given the selectors an opportunity of studying more closely the sailing of the others. It was argued on Monday at the association meeting that consistency in the gaining of second or third places surely entitled the Clyde to consideration. But the point is: how can Mr France compare such consistency with the showing put up by the Wellesley Ji., the Miss Josephine, and the All Black, when they won their races? Each was convincing in turn, and Mr Franco only proposed to do what, in the opinion of most yachtsmen, was the right thing in allowing these three to contest the remaining trials. The association, however, has decided that there shall be no eliminations. It is highly questionable whether the association is giving Mr France the support he deserves. He was appointed as sole selector, but his duties were not defined for him. Who can blame him, then, if he conducts the trials in his own way? He had no instructions not to eliminate boats, and it was only reasonable that ho should consider himself empowered to eliminate. if necessary. Eortur/.tcly, most of the members agreed on Monday that Mr France had been working in the dark, but was it- fair to him that the association should step in at that stage and tell him how the trials should be run? “Mainsail” is confident that he has the support of most yachtsmen when he answers emphatically in the negative.”