SAILS ARE STOWED

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 337, 24 April 1928, Page 16

SAILS ARE STOWED

LITTLE INTEREST SHOWN IN FINAL EVENTS OF SEASON’S RACING I I

SAILOR STEPS ASHORE The finale of the 1927-28 yachting season will go on record as probably the tamest and most mediocre for several years. To begin with, the weather was cold and squally, with intermittent rain throughout the afternoon, and those on the top of the King’s Wharf tower had an unenviable job. It could not have been so trying, however, as the lot of the racing crews who had to sit huddled in plunging boats. For the most part only poor fields of starters made an appearance in the majority of classes. The best turn-out was seen in the array of 15 launches which made a good showing as they manoeuvred on the line for the signal to go. The next class in order of numbers was the combined event for L and X mullet boats, which brought out a muster of 13. SLUMP IX SMALL CRAFT Only a moderate flotilla of 11 keelers responded to gunfire and the resultant [ race was not particularly interesting. The most unsatisfactory races from the f point of view of numbers were un- i the events for V and S classes. In the former only seven yachts competed, and this number included two Star boats, and in the S event but six took part. Yachts of the latter class have shown a steady disinclination to compete in recent years. In place of the one-time large fields and keen cont .sts there are now few starters and something like stagnation in the class. Saturday’s record sheets display a pathetic array of the tell-tale letters, “D.X.5.,” and “D.X.F.” The boisterous weather conditions had a good deal to do with the failure of several boats to complete the courses, but other factors were responsible for the unsatisfactory list of non-starters. The chief reason for the small fields seems to be that at this time of the year yachtsmen have had quite enough af aquatics, and racing in miserable conditions is less preferable to football and other sports ashore. TAKING A LIBERTY Another reason for the discrepancy between the number of published entries and the number of yachts that actually started is the practice of some clubs of “stacking” entries; that is, entering boats on spec., and counting on the acquiescence of owners in the | liberty taken. The most consistent handicapping was seen in L and X classes, when Waima secured first place in six clubs. Thelma was the most successful in the first and second class keeler events, taking first honours in three clubs. lorangi collected three seconds. Spray brought off four firsts in the 26-foot mullet boat class, and of the launches Tarua and Pierette each netted two I wins. Leveret notched three firsts and j Drone two in V class. In ££ class Star[loch secured four seconds.