AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 680, 4 June 1929, Page 14

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

By

KEELSON.

EARLY WAITEMATA YACHTS EVOLUTION OF THE RACER Changes in rig and hull design of yachts and the history of yachting on the Waitemata indicate a more or less incoherent but, nevertheless, definable idea of evolving a Waitemata-type craft. The first boatbuilders among tho white men were the commercial type. Trading vessels were vastly more important to the young Dominion than pleasure craft, but all the same, the old brig and cutter builder took a pride in turning out a neat dinghy; and rowing ill them was the first form of aquatics on\the harbour, that is, ships’ boats from which our present dinghies are descended. They reached their zenith as racing craft in the so-called whaleboat, a freak that was no more suited to the needs of a crew chasing a whale than a racehorse is to a ploughman. The community on the Waitemata’s shores began to acquire wealth, and inevitably the sporting instinct lead to development of boat racing on the liver, as it was then called. Tlie distinction of being the first yacht on the Waitemata is claimed for the Midnight, built for the Chamberlain family. Details of her build have not been recorded, but it is highly probable that she was a cutter of slimmer design than usual. The word “yacht’* is a Dutch term for a lightly built commercial craft. The first actual attempt to evolve a purely racing type came from the rivalry between the Dailey and Xiccol boatbuilding yards at Devonport. The first Mr. Xiccol had come with the earliest migrants to Auckland. His son Tom. more in defence of the capacity of New Zealandborn men to design a yacht than for any other reason, arranged to build the Secret, launched in 1575. She was of 30 tons measurement and had for competitors the Daphne and Peerless from the Bailey yard. Mr. Bailey learned boatbuilding at Devonport, first with the original Air. Alex. Alison (and the Bailey small boats still bear the Alison stamp) and later with Mr. Beddoe. whose yard was under North Head. These boats were really cutters of fine lines, with big square topsails. At the time they were put in the water there arrived in Auckland Mr. Robt. Logan, and he soon introduced the Clyde type craft with the graceful fiddle bow and racing design. For many years these three competing builders, with some intermittent competition from Mr. Weymouth, governed yachting design on the harbour and even extended their influence to the rest of New Zealand and to Australi, even now Maori yachtsmen could be Logan's case. FIRST CENTREBOARDS The early centreboard class were wide unwieldy craft; in fact, the owner c>£ the first one was so distrustful of the “fin” that he loaded up the boat

pi , s }: on as well. The awkwardness, oi the square topsails and big mainsails led to the use of the sliding gunter, but it faded out of popular favour with the evolution of the familiar topsails and rig that are seen on the present keelers. The need for hull change became more apparent when the founders of the three bigger building yards gave up the game Small handy craft were wanted, and cheap ones, too. The mullet boat, even with several modifications that now mark it, is closer to the earliest type yachts, in general appearance. The patiki. and the later more or less foreign classes, both in rig and hull, which make up the present wide range of our racing boats, indicate the latest phase of our somewhat unconscious demand for a Waitemata type. There is a real chance for the Auckland builder who can evolve that type. In passing, it may be remarked that the Maori wars did one great disservice; they prevented the evolution of a race of Maori yachtsmen, for the natives were virtually driven from the harbour and gulf. The Maori, lineal descendant of the seafaring Polynesians, is a born boatman. The Polynesians, in their single and double canoes, could fearlessly cross the Pacific and ramble down the sea roads from Honolulu to Tahiti, to Rarotonga and New Zealand. Their representatives in New Zealand were found to make expert sailors by the whaling ships’ captains, and one of them, Capt. Tautari, was well known on the East Coast as a trader. It is certain that and even as far as South Africa in trained who would rival their pakeha brothers. OUT OF THE LOCKER Mr. O. A. Moller, chairman of the Auckland Yacht and Motor-boat Association, and Dominion organiser of the United Political Part 3% is visiting Auckland. Last evening he paid a visit to his old club, the Takapuna Boating Club, where he met many yachtsmen. Mr. Moller will continue as chairman of the A.Y.M.B.A. until the next annual meeting, when he finds he will have to relinquish his duties with the association, temporarily’ at least. At’ Bayswater last evening the Takapuna Boating Club held a most enjoyable carnival dance. The clubhouse was prettily decorated, and novel lighting effects provided scenes of ever-changing colour. Despite counterattractions. the attendance was large, and the dancers were all greatly' pleased with the efforts of the club to leave nothing undone for their pleasure. Mr. Col. Wild's slipway’ and storage at Stanley Bay is well filled this year. The Devonport Yacht Club has parked its craft in a systematic way, and has ample room to meet all demands.

CORNWELL CUP CONFLICT OTAGO TROUBLE SETTLED Yachtsmen who are concerned foi the welfare and future prospects of tho Cornwell Cup contest will be glaci to learn that the dissension and strife in Otago has been put an end to with an amicable settlement. It will be remembered that tne North-East Harbour Club was expelled from the Otago Yacht and Motor-Boat Association for running counter to the association, which refused to entered a crew tor the cup contest held at Lyttelton. The North-East Harbour Club, a very powerful and influential body', ignored the association’s decision and sent its own crew to L3 r ttelton. For that the club was expelled. To make a long story short it was found that the association had no right to take so di'astic an action and North-East Harbour Club had to be taken back. There was something to bo said on both sides, and no doubt North-East acted rather rashly. Had the club not been received back by tho association North-East Club would not have been left entirely in the cold, because of the formation last season of the Vauxhull Club, also located on the Nortli-East Harbour. It is understood the two clubs would have joined forces and if driven to it, formed an association of their own, principally to foster tlie Cornwell Cup class. As far as can be ascertained the attitude of the 0.Y.M.8.A. toward the Cornwell Cup contest has incurred the disapproval of the general ptiblic in Dunedin. “Why,” the peope were demanding, “is all this bickering and squabbling permitted in connection with a j-achting contest for boys?” Last week the disputants met and, both admitting some indiscretion, shook hands. At present there are four Cornwell Cup class boats on Otago Harbour, and it is learned that the clubs down there are making inquiries about acquiring others. Mr. J. J. Mackay, commodore of the Takapuna Boating Club, has informed the North-East Harbour Club that Cornwell Cup boats can be built here for £27 on the steamer for delivery to any port in the Dominion. If Otago can organise and build more boats—eight are needed—there is little doubt that Auckland would be pleased to offer the Southerners the chance of holding the 1930 contest on Otago Harbour. But Auckland does not want to have to supply- boats, the idea being to encourage building in other centres. As an interchange of amenities the Takapuna Boating Club and the North-East Harbour Club have presented one to the other a silk pennant in recognition of mutual support during the protracted trouble over the Cornwell Cup contest.