AT THE SIGN OF THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume 1, Issue 70, 14 June 1927, Page 12

AT THE SIGN OF THE PENNANT

(By

KEELSON)

NEW BOAT AS PRIZE

ENCOURAGING Z CLASS The Tukapuna Boating Club, which originated the 12ft Gin in one design class, is evidently determined to encourage it as much as possible. A new boat, valued at £3O, is being given by the club to be sailed for by Z-class boats next season. This valuable prize will be awarded on the points system, the winner of each race to receive five points; second over the line, three; third over, two; and one point for a start. The handicapping conditions have been framed with a view to making the contest as fair as possible. A novice, that is, a boy who has not sailed in a yacht previously, will receive five minutes, a “first year” boy—“boy” meaning the individual sailing the boat —three minutes; second year, one minute; third year and over to be on scratch. It is hoped by the club that the effect of the decision to award this prize will be to stimulate building of the 12ft 6in class for the Cornwell Cup event. THE LIPTON CUP The Ponsonby Cruising Club is preparing a presentation book of photographs of the 1927 Lipton Cup race, for the patron to whom Auckland owes the coveted trophy—Sir Thomas Lipton. It has been the custom in the past to send Sir Thomas a photo of the winning boat each year, but this time the club has hit upon the happy idea of sending a comprehensive series of pictures covering various stages of the race—the start, contestants rounding the marks, the finish, the winner, Lu-

cille. and a group by THE SUN photographer, of the club officials and supporters aboard Mr. Jas. Donald’s launch. Marion D.

It was arranged before Mr. C. 11. Palmer left for England last week, to send the book on to him as soon as it is ready, to be handed by him to Sir Thomas Lipton. Mr. Palmer is a vice-president of the Ponsonby Club. * * * Otn June 23, the Point Chevalier Sailing Club intends to entertain the owner and crew of Lucille, this year’s winner, at a complimentary social. PONSONBY CLUB DANCES 4 The best turn-out for a long time,” was the unanimous opinion of members of the Ponsonby Cruising Club and visitors, who attended the fortnightly dance in the Club-house at St. Mary’s Bay on Saturday evening. The club proposes to hold a special dance in the Point Erin Kiosk on Juiy A WET WEEK-END At this time of the year wet weekends are only to be expected, but the last such a deluge of rain that very few yachtsmen ventured down to their boats to continue the work of preparing them for winter storage. With few exceptions, the haulingout sites on both sides of the Waite - i mta were practically deserted. Half-a-dozen hardy spirits might have been seen however at the Victoria Cruising club’s slipway at Freeman’s Bay. As a result four more boats are now on the hard. JUNE GOES TO DEVONPORT All three ‘ star” class boats are now located on the north 4 side of the Waitemata. June has joined Ola IV’. and Moa at Devonport. having been purchased recently by Mr. A. W. Tamlin. who raced Yvonne last season. June has been hauled up and will be thoroughly overhauled during the winter. When she takes the water again nex't season she will be resplendent in a new coat of light-blue and gold. Her new owner is anxious to join clubs which will be putting on races for “star” class during the 192728 sailing season. * * * The 26-foot mullet boat Cora will be seen no more on the Waitemata next season, except perhaps as an occasional visitor. Mr. Charles Hansen, of Motukutikiti Island, near Kawau. bought her recently from Mr. Mann, of Devonport. She was re-launched bv her new owner during the weekend. Rumour has it that Valkyrie has also changed owners.

PIONEER YACHTSMAN

THE LATE MR. JOHN WISEMAN Although it is now 24 years since the late Mr. John Wiseman (who died at San Diego last week at the age of 67), left Auckland, the older generation of yachtsmen still cherish many pleasant memories of the days—nearly 30 years ago—when he was commodore of the Auckland Yacht Club. When Mr. Wiseman first went afloat on the Waitemata it was in the wellknown champion of her day, Jessie Logan, built by Logan Brothers’ father. Then, as now, owners graduated from the smaller classes upwards, and this keen seaman replaced the Jessie Logan with Tawera. His best known boat was, of course, the big yawl Matangi, and in her he indulged his favourite pastime—cruising in the Hauraki Gulf. It would be hard to mention an island or bay which he did not visit in one or other of his three famous boats. The commodore’s ship was naturally the rendezvous of all the crews when boats met by chance in some sheltered cove around the coast, and many an enjoyable sing-song aboard the Matangi is still remembered by “the old hands.” Although there was not very much racing to be had in those days, John, as he was familiarly known to his associates, had his share of the prizes that were going. Members of the R.N.Z.Y.C. have reason to be grateful to him, for it was largely due to liis efforts that the old Auckland Yacht Club received the Royal warrant, which made it the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. THE YACHTSMAN'S CALENDAR June 16 —Ponsonby Cruisiru? Club’s smake concert to vice-presidents and donors of trophies. June 23 —Point Chevalier Sailing Club’s social to owner and crew of Lucille. June 25—Takapuna Boating Club’s “Petticoat Lane” carnival commences. Manukau Cruising Club’s prize night. June 29.—Victoria Cruising Club’s prize night. Akarana Yacht Club’s dance. July 22—Ponsonby Club’s dance at Point Erin Kiosk. July 23 —Victoria Club’s benefit concert to Mr. W. Tupp. August 6 —Manukau Yacht Club’s prize night and smoke concert. August 31—Akarana prize night. “PETTICOAT LANE” Something quite original is being planned by the Takapuna Boating Club, with the laudable object of swelling its regatta, fund. Every night for a week, commencing on Saturday, June. 25, a “Petticoat Lane” carnival will be in full swing in the club-house at Bayswater. The whole hall is being turned into a faithful representation of the famous London market as it is to-day. A start was made last night preparing the decorations and getting ready the stalls, which will represent costers’ barrows. Special coster songs and ballet will be put on each night of the carnival, and all the stall attendants will be dressed in character costumes. Special arrangements have been made for a free boat to leave the Ferry Wharf at 7.40 each night from Saturday to Saturday, for the convenience of visitors from the city side of the Waitemata. MOORINGS AT DEVONPORT June 30 will see the cancellation of the present protected area for yachts and launches, inside the ferry wharf at Devonport, according to the recent decision of the Harbour Board. The effect of this, it was explained at the board’s meeting last week, would be that three' 1 or four moorings outside the anchorage of the cable-ship Iris would have to be moved. A new area has been gazetted inside the Devonport sandspit. THE BETTY CONTROVERSY Dear “Keelson”, — In my letter which appeared in your issue of June 17 in reply to Mr. Andrews, I asked him to name the officials, who, he claims, cannot find fault with Betty’s measurements —in spite of the official measurer for Canterbury’s open admission of her ineligibility. This question, I note, he has carefully sidestepped, and adds that the official measurements sent up to Auckland were not correct. Be that as it may, the fact still remains that Magnus Smith has proved his ability to build boats to the true design, so it will take quite a lot to convince me that he is not capable of measuring Betty correctly. Mr. Andrews now states that his ship is fuller than the plans at the waterline for-ard. I would like all those who have seen Betty to note this claim.

Might 1 ask Mr. Andrews if there is any truth in the rumour going about here, about his craft having beer, altered since the last contest?

Though to most boatbuilders it appears a hard proposition to alter a boat that might differ appreciably from the design. Skipper Andrews appears quite confident of his ability to make the alteration if his boat requires it. The following extract from his letter in your June 7th issue hears this out;

“Should it be decided to measure boats before a cup contest and anv allowance for error made that will cover all the other boats, Betty will he found to measure within it. or will soon be made to do so.”

To see Betty comply would be the realisation of my aim in opening up this subject, which I did in an evenminded attempt to have the main defect of the class placed in the open, for the sake of fairness, and the future success of the Sanders Cup contests MOSS.