AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume II, Issue 516, 20 November 1928, Page 14

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

OPENING DAY REVIEWED RACING ON DOWN GRADE? APATHY IN SMALL CLASSES Are yacht and launch men really keen on racing their craft? Is the sport of aquatics keeping proportionate pace with the growth of the population? Is boating even making headway on the Waitemata? If not, what is wrong with it? These are some of the questions that occur to one after a review of the “annual opening day,” which took place last Saturday afternoon. There is no gainsaying that the display was, in most classes, lamentable. It was commonly heard among many old hands gathered on the King’s Wharf that the fields of starters, particularly among the centreboard and open boat divisions, were nothing like so fine an array as those seen in earlier times. Making duo allowance for the inevitable over-enthusiasm of the old school when comparisons of what was and what is are in the air, it will be admitted that yacht racing is nothing like the sturdy sport it was in the closing years of last century and the early ones of this. The old stagers point to the times when it was a common sight to see twice the number of “mulleties,” or dinghies, or even third and fourthclass keelers manoeuvring about for the start of the first races of the season.

In those days boating was the paramount pastime of Auckland, and yachting had a much more pronounced sway among the public than it has to-day. In the three or four years immediately preceding the Great War boat racing was conducted with far greater enthusiasm than since. There is no doubt that the world upheaval has had its weakening effect upon yachting, as upon most things. A large number of the keenest men did not return to sail their boats, and it seems the younger generation is not coming forward to take their place. POSITION ANALYSED

Something is surely wrong when out of the 30 odd A and B class keelers on the register of the Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association, only nine finished the race on Saturday to Islington Bay. Allowing for, say, 20 per cent, being out of commission or not yet afloat, that leaves 24 in active service. Suppose even half contested the race, that is not much to be satisfied about in the chief yachting centre of the Dominion. The C and E class race was nothing short of farcical. Out of 35 boats on the register only four started. Again allowing 20 per cent., where are the 24 non-combatants? The 26-foot mullet boats, of which there are 18 somewhere, could only muster, with the addition of one I class craft, a poor five contenders. The best showing of the day was put up by the event for L and. N mullet boats. Thirty-six boats are registered and 14 finished the race. Even this looks bad compared with the heyday of the classes. And so the dismal procession goes on, and becomes, if anything, worse in the open

boat sections. S class is a tragedy. It has shrunk to ghost-like proportions. No fewer than 49 are registered. Even supposing a third are out of commission, or have departed elsewhere, that does not explain the doleful slump. But what about the T’s. X’s and Ys? The official list shows no fewer than a total of 105 in these three divisions. And how many turned out on Saturday? An apologetic 15 all told! And numbered among the sad flotilla was the new Sanders Cup aspirant Val. SLUMP IN LAUNCHES

Now the launches. The seven competing clubs all included a race for powered cruisers in their programme. One club received no entries. Among them all they managed to rake together eight contenders! And this out of a register of 161 on the controlling body's lists, as shown in the recentlypublished handbook —which is presumed to have been purged of dead, dying and fossilised craft.

Of course a great many owners never hear the starter’s gun. being cruising men only. But the argument before us is whether yacht racing is losing popularity. The fact that the number of A and B class keelers actively racing remains about the same year in. year out. suggests that the bigger boats are holding their own. Conversely, it would seem that the little craft are petering out undeniably. The writing on the wall appears plain enough. The young fellows are not going afloat. They have their motorbikes. their cars, their tennis, their cricket, their dozen-and-one other diversions. The Cornwell Cup promoters are doing their best to get the young generation to take to the tiller,

“ 3y KEELSON. but only a few are reached. The Sanders Cup men started off with the same ideals, but the 14-footers have got into the hands of older people and as far as the Waitemata is concerned the contests have about killed themselves. And the mourners are few. With the magnificent sheet of water at Auckland’s front door, yachting ought to be booming. The sport seems to have got into a state of coma. It needs kicking along. The man who can devise a practical means of getting the boys and young men into the languishing boats and rousing a moribund enthusiasm for what is one of the finest and most manly sports devised will be doing the nation a service the value of which could not be measured. HERE AND THERE The Akarana Tacht* Club’s boathouse, Campbell’s Point, will be officially opened to-morrow evening with a concert and dance. A tender running into three figures has been let for the painting of the Takapuna Boating Club’s boathouse. The successful tenderer is Mr. C. Brinsden, of Takapuna. ' mm* A special meeting has been convened by the Takapuna Boating Club to be held this evening in the boathouse, Bayswater, for the purpose of allocating the privilege of holding the 1929 Cornwell Cup contest. Several ports have applied for permission to hold the races. It is understood that Lyttelton’s prospects are most favoured. mm* The Cornwell Cup class punts are active under the jurisdiction of the Manukau Yacht and Motor-boat Club. On Saturday the first official races were held, and two heats were sailed. The second event finished very closely, only half a length separating the first and second boats. As a result of the races, R. Grant and D. McKenzie have to sail off with R. Baker and R. McLeod. OFFICIAL HANDBOOK ON SALE The Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association’s much-heralded and elusive handbook is at last published. Its 88 pages were worth waiting for. The handbook contains a guide to everything a boat man, whether power or sail devotee, ought to know. Racing rules are included, and the rule of the road at sea is a valuable section. The book costs Is 6d. but no aquatic man should be without a copy.

WARNING TO SPEED-MEN HARBOUR BOARD ON WARPATH The Harbour Board is on the warpath. It is looking out for certain owners of speed boats and racing outboard motor-boats. For some time past the board’s attention has been directed to the practice of several speed men to come dashing with a fine show of spray into the protected mooring areas controlled by the board and reserved for the safe anchorage of pleasure craft. A warning in this connection is issued by the harbourmaster, Captain H. H. Sergeant, who has already taken action against one speed boat driver for careering about in the Mechanic’s Bay area to the danger of yachtsmen in the locality. The captain points out that the formidable wave created by a fast craft is capable of doing much damage to yachts and launches, should they happen to be alongside the jetties or slipways adjacent to the anchorages. Further than that, a heavily-laden dinghy with a load of men going out to or returning from their boat may easily be overturned, with possible loss of life. Many yachtsmen have expressed annoyance with these thoughtless speed merchants and will heartily endorse Captain Sergeant’s intentions. Another thing that is causing the Harbour Board trouble is the habit of some aquatic men to anchor for the purpose of fishing in the fairway of vessels making or leaving the port. These persons are a source of much concern to shipmasters, who frequently have had to complain to the harbourmaster. A warning will be advertised in the papers, and if the practice continues Captain Sergeant intends to prosecute the offenders.