AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 650, 30 April 1929, Page 17

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

OUT OF THE LOCKER Although the season has been otlicially closed the Victoria Cruising Club will hold its iinal fixture on Saturday next. A resail of the U class race held on Regatta Ray between Awatere, Celox, Starloch and Why Not will also be decided. The hauling up of boats on the point of land east of the Devonport Yacht Club's area is to be prohibited. This action will be regretted by Shore yachtsmen. The Auckland Yacht and MotorBoat Association has affirmed the principle that the rules as published should be of universal adoption and enforcement among affiliated clubs. All clubs have been asked to formally approve of and adopt the rules in toto, and advise the association to that effect. If clubs have any alterations, additions or deletions they desire carried out, they are ‘requested to communicate same to the association as soon as possible, in order that such suggestions may be considered without delay. Wellington yachtsmen recently held a regatta at Paremata, lasting l'or three or four days, and some great sport was enjoyed. Regattas lasting as long as this are unknown to local enthusiasts, but the idea is worth considering. 11l fortune attended Windward and her crew on Saturday afternoon. She was participating in the “closing day' 1 cruising race to Islington Play for A and B class keelers. Out in Ilangitoto Channel, while a member of the crew was “up the stick” uniashing the topsail from the gaff, the cross-trees suddenly doubled up, mast-head shrouds slackened, and ner “stick” snapped off about ten feet above deck. It all happened in the twinkling of an eye. The man aloft was Hung overboard. luckily making a clear drop. He was soon picked up. fortunately no other damage resulted from the mishap, sails and gear being unscathed. Skipper M. D. Grayson cannot account for the occurrence. All his standing gear is in first-class order, and always has been, and he reckoned on being able to drive his boat through anything without mishap. Then, Saturday's wind was nothing

1 t»> KHGI_i3O.N extraordinarily violent—a wholes, .e breeze, but nothing else. lhe incident is one of that unfortunate type of accidents for which nobodv can be blamed, and no reason given. 1 njjosopliio, like most yach-smen. \\inuward's owner-skipper is “grinning and bearing it." # “Closing Ray” was marked by big fields and enthusiastic racing. It is gratifying for officials and organisers to find so many starters awaiting the gun in all events at an end-of-the-season fixture. Officials are to be congratulated on the efficient and slick handling of a lengthy programme When a club decides to start two races together it would be as well to specify in the programme that the two classes are to be sent awa v simultaneously, and not merely state, the same starting time for each of the events. The latter course leads to confusion, as competitors frequently conclude that a typographical error lias occurred in the advertised times, and consequently stand by awaiting some explanatory signal or call from the starting-line. An instance of bungling resulting from this kind of thing occurred at the Ponsonpy Cruising Club's fixture on April “0. Mr. A. J. Col lings, who is something of a mathematician, has worked out the speeds of launches competing in last Saturday’s race. Assuming the distance to Islington Bay to be 7.1 knots, following are tie speeds in knots of the competitors: Ponui. 18.5: My Girl. 1*».“: liononre 11.. 14.1 : Ramona. 12.3: Irene. 10.7; Kathryn R.. 9.92: Kenya. 9.1: Areta, 5.2: Nyria. 7.9: Twilight. 5.5 On the assumption that tin course was seven knots doad. subtract .1 of a knot. The speeds are a fair indication of the capabilities of the various craft, because although the tide was running out the boats had to face a fresh head-wind. MODEL YACHT NOTES “Felix” writes: At last a Model Yacht Club at Orakei seems assured. The chief drawback in the past in forming a club at Orakei has been the lack of protection for dinghies. Appeals to the City Council to be allowed to erect dinghy shelters were of no avail. A keen enthusiast of model yachting. Captain Bevan. a retired master mariner, has generously allow # sheds to be. erected on his property which extends to the ‘-dge of the basin. Such an offer of assistance has been gladly accepted and already a start has been made with the building. When erected, practice through the winter months will be available and by the opening of the season Orakei will be in an advanced position for racing.

WHAT’S IN A NAME Yacht and launch men who have visited Russell, Bay of Islands, in recent years are well acquainted with the deep-sea fishing launches stationed at that delightful resort. Prominent among the boats are Mr. F. Arlidge s fine craft the Zane Grey and the Alma G. Everybody knows who the former was named after, but the name of the other is always a puzzle to visitors. “Keelson” was informed by Mr. Arlidge. senior, the other day that Alma G. was named after Alma Green, a little niece of Mr. Arlidge. Both launches are painted a light sea green and arc very smart in appearance. A really bright suggestion was recently made to Mr. Arlidge by a small boy, who lives at Russell. He said this: Why not paint the Alma Green and the Zane Grey. MAGNIFICENT SHARK’S JAW One of the sights at Russell not usually shown to the general run of visitors is a magnificent shark’s jaw —the property of “Cook the Whaler.’ Many boating men are familiar with the whale-ship Hananui. anchored for most of the year off Russell wharf. It was while Mr. Cook and hia son were away in the ship last whaling season that they caught the shark when operating from Whangamumu. The brute was 23ft long and was identified as belonging to the Great White species. The jaw is about 30 inches in diameter and contains an impressive armoury of teeth. When attacked the shark seized the bow of the whaleboat and damaged several of its two-inch teeth, otherwise the jaw is in perfect condition. When a shark suffers loss, of teeth new ones are ready to work into place in a very short time. This specimen showed, when a portion of tbo “gums” had been out away, no fewer than five rows of teeth ready to come to the surface like cartridges in a rifle magazine. The Auckland Museum authorities have several times unsuccessfully endeavoured to acquire this specimen which Mr. Cook is naturally unwilling to allow out of his keeping. He is always pleased, however, to show the jaw to anyone interested. In a shed at. the back of his house Mr. Cook has an array' of trophies from the deepsea big-gam*' grounds, and here you may see a fine collection of mako jaws.