AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 52, 24 May 1927, Page 7

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

(By

KEELSON)

RONA’S ROSS CUP

It is not generally known that the 50-guinea Ross Cup has been won outright by the 14ft one designer Rona. This fine trophy was presented by Captain Ross to the Auckland Anniversary Regatta Committee in 1921 for annual competition by the JeJlicoe class boats. That the action of this fine supporter of aquatics was a popular on© is evident from the keen interest and splendid racing that has marked the competition each year as a result. The cup was first competed for in 1922, and was then won by Rona. In this race Idler crossed the finishing line first eight seconds ahead, but lost the race over some sail restriction. The following year the Sanders Cup challenger, Murihiku 1., proved successful after a very close race. 1924 showed us Nyria as the ultimate winner. Another Sanders Cup challenger in the shape of Konini, representing Hawke’s Bay, lifted the trophy the succeeding year, to be followed by two wins in successive years by Rona. The conditions attaching to the cup provided that it must be won three times by the one boat to be won outright.

In conversation with Captain Ross, he remarked that he had been very well satisfied with the conduct of and the very fine spirit displayed in the racing. He also added that though the cup had had a good trip around, he was convinced that the right boat had secured it. To use his own words, *‘l am very pleased, and am sure no better boat could have won it.” It is very gratifying to the regatta officials to know that Captain Ross has appreciated their efforts in respect to wha- we may term his race. I understand that the trophy will be presented by its donor to Mr. C. G. Macindoe, owner of Rona, on the occasion of the “Royals” annual prize-giving function. MANUKAU BOATS The- official champion of the Manukau, Merry Jest, has had rather a chequered career since attaining that honour. In the ISft open championship she was beaten by the Mystery, while after joining up with the Cruising Cup to contest the Fearon Challenge Cup she again went under, this time to the Sylvia. Lone Star, the 14ft champion of the Manukau, has found a new home, and next season will see her on the waters of the Waitemata; her racing, I believe, will be principally with the Point Chevalier Club. HAULING-UP CONTINUES Something in the nature of a record was put up at the Victoria Club’s site. Freeman’s Bay, over the week-end, no less than 12 boats being hauled out in the one day. The magnitude of the task can be gauged when one considers that nine of the Irger type, and three of the small fry were stored. Quite the best example of how not to do things was shown by a perhaps tactless crew during the hauling-out operations at the Victoria slipway on Sunda'*

A certain launch was floated on to the cradle about 1 p.m., carrying a complement of about six persons. It so happened that the club’s band of workers left about this time for lunch, and *on returning an hour later immediately proceeded to haul her out. The most surprising part that struck me was the utter lack of interest displayed by the occupants of the craft during the whole of the proceedings. The boat itself was rather a weighty oYie, and their continued presence in the cabin did not assist or give the voluntary helpers much encouragetnent to go on with the good work. As a very small fee is charged for hauling out and storing at this spot, it is usual for the owner and crew to give every assistance. I hope this was only an isolated breach of the launchmen’s etiquette.

Members of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron spent a strenuous afternoon on Saturday, when a working bee, organised during the week, got busy building a protecting wall at the squadron's slipway at Freeman’s Bay. Another working bee will be held later to build a similar wall to complete the protection for both sides of the slipway. Devonport yachtsmen also spent a busy week-end hauling up. The Harbour Board’s decision to shift the moorings from their old position west of the ferry wharf to a new anchorage inside the Sandspit, between the wharf and North Head, is causing considerable congestion. Space at the new club house is very limited and room has to be found for additional boats that would otherwise have been hauled up on the beach near the old moorings. Some difficulty has been experienced in getting some of the bigger launches ashore at the club house area. The work entailed has been very heavy, particularly in the case of one boat, a 20-tonner. It is necessary to

strengthen the slipway to take these < heavy craft. 200 M.P.H. ENGINES It comes as a surprise to both powerboat men and motorists alike to learn that the engines which propelled Major H. O. D. Seagrave’s car at over 203 miles an hour on Daytona Beach, Florida, are ten years old, and have served their time, so to speak, afloat. Originally 12-cylinder aircraft engines of a type standardised during the war, these Sunbeaih-Coatalen power units were put into one of the Saunders-built “Maple-leaf” boats that England sent to America in an endeavour to bring home the British International motor-boat trophy. At the end of its voyage across the Atlantic the boat was accidentally dropped into the water, the engines receiving a thorough soaking before being fished out again. Another phase in the life of these veteran engines was subsequent to this adventure, when they were stowed away in a shed out of commission altogether, for a considerable period, until the ambition to smash speed records called them into life again. * * * - COMING FIXTURES The Victoria Cruising Club has decided on Wednesday, June 29, for its annual prize night. The function will take place in the Scots Hall. * * * A smoke concert to vice-presidents and donors of trophies will be held in the Ponsonby Cruising Clubhouse on Thursday, June IG. The club’s prize night will not be held until July. * * * The Devonport Yacht Club’s prize night will not be held until some time in August. A TRIP ABROAD Mr. Charles H. Palmer, commodore of the New Zealand Power Boat Association, will have some interesting things to tell Auckland yachtsmen when he returns from his long trip to Europe. He leaves by the Maunganui on June 7 —to-day fortnight—for Vancouver, and will visit Toronto, Chicago and New York on his way. He proposes to call on leading yacht clubs during his trip, which is a business one, and hopes to arrive in England in time to witness the race for the Duke of York’s trophy on the Thames on August 13. Mr. Palmer’s trip was referred to at the annual meeting of the Navy League, of which he is president, last week. WHY NOT PATIKIS? An echo of the 14-footer controversy comes from Dunedin, where yachtsmen have been commenting on the unsuitability of this class of boat to local conditions. At a recent function at which a presentation was made to Mr. E. T. Moller, a former commodore of the North-East Harbour Boating Club, a local yachtsman, Mr. Grant, condemned the 14footer class as being quite unsuitable for the tricky conditions which are so ! often experienced on the Otago Harbour. In his opinion, a more stable ; class was essential. Mr. Moller, himself, had something i to say on the subject also. He was not j in favour of the 14-footer, he said, but while it was in existence Otago must j be repi'esented in the championship 1 contests, and they looked to the Otago ; Yacht and Motor Boat Association to see 'that the province was represented by a suitable boat. It has been suggested, and a number of yachtsmen support the idea, that the patikis, 14-foot restricted class, would be much more suitable boats to race for the Sanders Cup. They are certainly much faster than the 14-footers and should provide more thrilling racing, as well as being parti-

cularly seaworthy, and at the same time light enough to be easily transported to and from their home ports. SOME USEFUL HINTS Who has not struggled at one time ! or another with new rope full of kinks? To avoid this, when opening up a new coil, instead of taking the end of the rope from the centre, take it from the outside of the coil and unreel it. The rope will come off free of kinks and can be rove at once without stretching. Experience has shown that after painting sail covers and awnings the paint has a tendency to crack in time

and leaks develop. A simple remedy, not generally known, is to add a dessertspoonful of treacle, or, for preference, golden syrup, to each pound of paint. Yachtsmen who take a pride in the appearance of their boats—and it would be difficult to find one that did not—are always keen on having their sails as snowy white as it is possible to get them. A good sail-bleach can be made from l£lb of washing soda and 21b of chlorinated lime, mixed with 2£ gallons of water. It is advisable to put the ingredients together a couple of days before it is intended to use the bleach. The sail should be laid out on some fiat, clean space, such as sand or shingle beach, and give a thorough wetting. Salt water is quite suitable for this. The bleach should then be applied with a clean scrubbing brush. If, after an hour or so, the sail is well washed again in either sea or fresh water, and left to dry in the sun, the mixture will not be found in any way injurious to the texture.