Week’s Yacht Racing

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 774, 21 September 1929, Page 28

Week’s Yacht Racing

PROPOSAL BY SQUADRON Important Season Ahead A“KAWAU WEEK” for yacht-racing, after the manner of the famous ‘‘Cowes Week” held annually in England, but in a humbler way, of course, is a proposal to be considered by the incoming committee of the' Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron. The idea, which in the first instance emanated from Mr. Iveith Draffln, a member of the present squadron committee, has been unofficially talked over in the club for some time and, it is understood, finds a considerable measure of support.

Mr. Drafßn’s plan is to concentrate the bulk of the squadron's racing calendar, which is now spread over the entire season, into a week or ten days at a time of the year most suitable to the majority of yachtsmen sailing under the Squadron’s pennant. It is claimed, and with reason, that better racing should result. There would be no half measures. That is, boats would be stripped and rigged entirely for the race. Prior to the carnival the yachts would be hauled out on the hard, blackleaded and compounded and generally brought to a condition giving the highest possible racing efficiency. Difficult courses could be laid off and competition made as rigorous as possible. Ashore at headquarters minute care would be given to handicapping and the correction of times and everything done with mathematical accuracy. By this means racing could be reduced to a, tine art along the lines of the jealously regulated contests of Britain and America. There is no doubt that the project w ill come some time or other, although it is generally considered impracticable for a season or two at any rate. The

chief difficulty is that crews cannot get their holidays all at the same time. PRACTICAL DIFFICULTIES Some, of course, are in the fortunate position of being able to name their own fortnight, but with the majority of us annual leave must be taken when convenient to the firm. It would seem that about Christmas time would be a. more suitable time than in February. But then again, in the festive season most owners are more in the

But Bannantyne was not satisfied with. this. In the same brutal tone he 1 ordered Mrs. Bannantyne to press the spring near the bottom of the door. | When her trembling fingers had found i it he pressed the upper one and drew I out the rod. He took out the case, j opened it, and examined it closely, i Suddenly he jumped down on to the floor, still holding the case. “Then it is a thief after all,” lie cried; “and thanks to your pigheadedness, Alice, we’ve lost the sapphires!” “Oh, Henry!” Mrs. Bannantyne pleaded. “I ought never to have given way,” he cried, “to your idiotic notion of keeping the necklace here. Why not keep it with your other jewels at the bank, like all sensible women do? Oh, no! For some silly, sentimental reason it must be kept here. And I was a fool to agree. It’s all your fault, Alice! You must have been careless, stupidly careless! Now what do you propose to do?” Mrs. Bannantyne was sobbing pitifully a spectacle which at any other time would have brought her husband to her side, comforting and sympathetic. But now, in his anger over the necklace, her tears only infuriated Bannantyne the more. He burst into a further tirade. Patricia could bear it no longer. She went back to the others in the wiijter garden. “What’s the matter?” asked Julia Wryce, hearing Bannantyne’s angry voice as Patricia opened and shut the door. Patricia hesitated. “Oh, Henry, I expect, will tell you himself,” she said, “when he’s got over his rage. It’s a bad one this time.” “Then I shall make myself scarce until dinner-time,” Maxwell Wryce said with a little laugh. “I know what Henry’s tempers are. Come along, Julia.” “What’s upset Henry?” asked Meredith, when the brother and sister had gone. He thought Bannantyne had perhaps reopened the old question of Patricia living at Brentland. Before Patricia could answer, the sitting-room door was flung open, and Bannantyne came out. “Has Patricia told you that Alice’s sapphires have been stolen?” he asked angrily. “No.” “Well, they have —and not a word about it to anjmne, either of you. Do you hear? Not a word! If the thief’s ill the house, he must not be given any warning. I’m going to telephone to Grelkin to come down at once. He’s the best man for these sort of things. Now, remember, not a word.” Bannantyne thundered across the mosaic pavement of the winter garden, banging the double doors leading into the hall behind him. “Whew!” said Meredith. “Poor Alice, she was so fond of those sapphires.” ; Dinner that night at Brentland was |an uncomfortable meal. Mrs. Bannanj tyne did not come down, and Bannani tyne sat morose and almost silent, I “glowering like a Roman lion baulked iof a fat Early Christian,” as Julia Wryce said to Patricia afterwards, j Conversation was difficult, and finj ally, despite the efforts of his four | guests, by the time dessert was put i on the table, Bannantyne’s threateni ing gloom had reduced them all to | one of those silences in which every-

mood for leisurely cruising- with their guests than for strenuous racing. Ivawau offers great possibilities for development as a yachting and social centre and in due course we may loom to elaborate carnivals, both ashore and afloat. The 1929-30 season should be one of the most important the Waitemata has known for some years. We will have to defend the Sanders Cup, which was brought North last summer by Avalon after the contest at Akaroa. The cup has been away in other parts for several seasons and interest has flagged in the contest as far as Auckland is concerned. Those who have the welfare of the Jellicoe class at heart hope that by having the series in this port enthusiasm will once again be keen. There has been a good deal of opposition from some clubs on the score of j the expense of sending a challenger to j the South, and as finances have not j been easy in recent years the more im- ! pecunious of the clubs have naturally demurred about cost of yachting. Further, other clubs have lost faith in the Sanders Cup matches because it is said the class has become one in which only the well-to-do can afford to take part. Complaint has been' freely made that the cost of the 14-footers Is now out of all proportion to the size of the boat and that the time has come for a cessation of the “armaments race” in this connection. Objection lias been voiced to the fact that the boats are handled by men and it is stated that in the first instance they were intended for youths and budding yachtsmen, not veterans. However, there seems a certain amount of evidence that the Sanders Cup contest was not

body sits wondering what he can possibly say next. It was broken by Bannantyne asking Patricia and Julia to have their coffee in the dining-room. “I have something to tell you,” he explained to the brother and sister. “Guy and Patricia know already.” When the servants had gone, he told them of the disappearance of the necklace. “Alice’s sapphires!” cried Julia Wryce. “How dreadful! Oh, poor Alice.” “It’s entirely her own fault,” snapped Bannantyne. “She would insist on keeping them here.” “Yes, I remember her telling Mary Latehmere and me—when was it?— oh, yes, the night of your big ball—that she always had it here. But she said the place where it was kept was absolutely burglar-proof. I remember she said it was ‘safer than any safe’.” “So we thought,” Bannantyne rejoined, “but apparently it’s been an easy job for somebody.”

meant for boys or youths, but for whoever was best at handling the class. WORTHY OF SUPPORT It is to be hoped that the contest will receive universal support early next year and that yachtsmen will unite to defend the trophy. Southern aquatic men regard the Sanders Cup contest as the blue riband of New Zealand yachting, and in a way it is, although deep water yachtsmen who sail the coasts may smile a little. They can bo forgiven if they prefer to associate the blue riband with perhaps the ocean race to Bussell or to Tauranga, both of which take precedence on account of their earlier history. Auckland has also to defend the Cornwell Cup. Bast season, although our boys were the holders, they battled

for the trophy at Lyttelton to stimulate interest A own South. On this occasion, however, it is probable that Shoal Bay, Bays water, will be the locale. It was on this stretch of tide that the now famous 1927 schedule of races took place that gave rise to the most animated Press controversy

He then explained how he and his i wife had accidentally discovered the hiding-place in the cupboard door, that after the discovery one of the false books had been made into a case for the necklace, and that except when Mrs. Bannantyne was wearing the sapphires they were always in the case, never anywhere else. He i described in detail the working of the two springs, which when pressed both together released the rod fastening the row of sham books to the top shelf; but here neither Meredith nor Wryce could follow him. “It’s absolutely simple,” he said testily, in answer to a question from Wryce. “Look!” Bannantyne opened the dining-room door,. using its edge to demonstrate the position of the hidden springs on the cupboard door in his wife's sittingroom. “Patricia, come and show them,” he called, putting a chair beside the door. At his direction, Patricia pressed the imaginary spring at the bottom of

vaehting in the Dominion has known. But that is another story and the incident is closed. The contest is worthy of generous support from established yachtsmen, for in the lads who vie in the Takapuna 12ft 6in flatties are the deep sea men of tomorrow. THE POWER BOATS Already the outboards are beginning to buzz on the harbour and during the next two or three weeks many more should make their appearance. Both Mr. L. Stericker in his crack racer Hum Bug and Mr. A. R. Townsend in a new Miss Arawa have been out for trial spins. These drivers contributed some splendid racing last season and there was very little, if anything, between the results obtained by their respective craft. Both ran up to 32 miles an hour frequently, and on occasion 35 was touched. Mr. i?tericker has just received a new and improved engine and Mr. Townsend is said to be achieving very good results from his new hull. Those who follow the sport will be unanimous in hoping that this season will again find little or nothing between the performances of the rivals. Will the 40 mile an hour mark be topped this summer? Indications are that the Waitemata will be alive with outboards during the next few months. Those who find the thrills of racing a little too exacting can get satisfaction out of fast cruising in runabouts. Several shipyards are turning out a very comfortable type of cruising hull at a medium price and there are half a dozen makes of motors, all good, to choose from. Outboards are being used extensively on the Wa‘kato and other waterways. They are very convenient for fishing expeditions where the water is reasonably smooth, and a number are being used on the trout lakes. NEW LAUNCHES In addition to Mr. H. R. Jenkins’s large new launch, mention of which was made in these columns a week ago, a fine cruiser has been built for Mr. A. Spencer, of Stanley Bay. The model is distinctly American, with its bridge deck and pronounced flair, which gives tho appearance of a miniature destroyer. The ship will be a handsome addition to* the pleasure fleet. Her dimensions aro 38ft by 10ft. She has a 10ft wheelhouse amidships and aft there is a flush deck in place of the usual cockpit. She is powered with a 200 h.p. six-cylinder unit. At Onehunga a V-bottom cruiser is under way for Mr. J. Hop wood, of Auckland, in the yard of Mr. L. Coulthard. She is 36ft by 9ft, and will have a 65 h.p. motor. A 32ft by 9ft round bilge launch has just been completed by Mr. Col. Wild for Mr. Ij. Mac Queen. The boat will have 25 h.p. Mr. J. H. Slattery is at work on a 30ft by Bft launch for Mr. S. Keane. The plant will be of 30 h.p. Messrs. Collings and Bell have begun work on a 40ft passenger launch for Picton.

the door, while Bannantyne standing on the chair pressed the imaginary one above.

“The double pressure releases the rod," he explained. “One spring is no good. I’ve tried it. And you’ve got to stand on something to reach the top spring, because the cupboard door is fairly high.” “Oh, I see the working now,” said Wryce. “It means that it takes two people to release the rod.” “Yes, that was why Alice asked Patricia to help her, the last time she wore the necklace.” “In that case, it would take two people to steal it,” Meredith continued. CHAPTER XII. “Why, of course, it must have been tw r o people who stole the necklace,” Bannantyne said, closing the door. “I hadn’t thought of that. However,” he went on, returning to his place at the table, “I’ve telephoned for Grelkin; I’ve always heard he is the best detective you can have for a jewel robbery. He’s coming down tonight. I told him on the telephone I’m convinced that if the thief came from outside he must have worked on information from inside. If not, it must be one, or two, of the servants. There's not been a single change in the household since the night Alice and Patricia put the necklace in the case. That he thinks may help, although, as he says, the lapse of time makes things difficult ” “Why, it must be three months since the ball,” interposed Julia Wryce. “That is Grelkin’s trouble,” Bannantyne answered, “and that’s why he suggests coming down as a valuer or the maker of an inventory. A sense of security', he says, often makes people give themselves aw r ay. As a valuer or an inventory man he can go all over the house without rousing suspicion. So if you see a strange man about the place, going in and out of bedrooms, don’t be surprised. You’ll know it’s Grelkin doing his job. That’s why I told you about the necklace, and please don’t mention the loss to anybody. Grelkin says absolute silence is necessary for fear the thief should get a warning. Xow, I'll go and warn Alice.” Half an hour later the private detective and Bannantyne were closeted in the latter’s study. Grelkin in no way resembled the conventional idea of a detective. In fact, he was so plump and roundabout, so amiablelooking and smiling, that he suggested the prosperous grocer rather than a sleuth-hound of crime. But in his ow*n line—jewel robberies—he had a big reputation. “I’ll go over that cupboard door in Mrs. Bannantyne’s sitting-room very carefully in tbe daylight, Mr. Bannantyne,” he said, speaking with a sharp decision which was in curious contrast with his appearance. “But it looks like a difficult job. Three months is a long time.'* Grelkin’s own private theory was that the case was hopeless. Bannantyne had told him how the necklace had been carefully put away; how its disappearance was discovered | and then had shown him the' talse bookcase and the working of the I springs. If he had been sent for at | once, the detective thought, there I might have been some clue, but now

he could see no point at which to j begin. j “You think a servant must be the ; thief?” he asked, his mild blue eyes ; fixed upon Bannantyne. “It is the only possible supposition that I can see. As I told you, nobody except my w T ife, myself and Miss Daynesford knew' where the necklace ■was kept. And Miss Daynesford did not know until three months ago when she helped my wife to put it away the last time it was worn. No,” Bannantyne continued, rising and standing in front of the fireplace, “the only solution is this: Either on the night when my wife and Miss i Daynesford put the necklace away, | or at some time when my wife and I were doing it, a servant must have i been spying, and saw how the springs were w r orked. I can’t see any other explanation.” Grelkin did not speak for a few moments, then he said: “What servants would attend to the room?” Two housemaids in the mornings before breakfast and again in tbe evening after my wife had gone up to dress for dinner. During the day the butler or one of the footmen w’ould answer my w'ife’s bell —that’s all.” “Would there be any servants about at the times you were taking the necklace out of the case, or putting it back?” “No, because when my wife wore the necklace we always took it before she went to dress. She carried it in a little bag she had for the pur- j pose* And we put it away before w r e | went upstairs to bed. Besides, I myself always locked the tw o doors, one j leading into the library, the other into : the winter garden. That’s the puz- ; zling thing about it—unless someone | spied through the keyhole.” “But on one point, Mr. Grelkin,” Bannantyne added, “my wife is absolutely certain. She says there was i not a soul in that part of the house 1 except Miss Daynesford and herself , on the night of the ball. Her sitting- j room w'as not used that night. Usually • she goes to it through the winter : garden, but it was used for slttingi out, so they went through the lib- ! rary. That she says was empty, both | when they went to her room and j when they came back. In fact, the j library was never used on the right | of the ball. It w'as arranged for ! bridge and smoking, but I remember ' the butler telling me tbe next morn- | ing that not a card had been touched • or a cigarette smoked.” ! “Did Miss Daynesford see anvi body?” “I haven’t asked her,” Bannantyne j replied “But she was with my w ife j the w hole time, and went with her i to her bedroom after they had put the necklace away. So if my wife didn’t see anybody, neither would Miss Daynesford.” < Grelkin was silent again. “Might I | ask you, Mr. Bannantyne,” he said suddenly, “who Miss Daynesford is?” “She is a relation of mine, the ■ daughter of my cousin. Gervase Daynesford. You will remember—” “Oh. yes,” Grelkin interposed, “the rich stockbroker who committed sui- ! cide some little time ago.” i “Not rich. He was ruined!” Quite unconsciously Bannantyne’s i voice expressed the contempt that | surged up in him whenever Gervase Daynesford's name was mentioned. The detective glanced at him quickly. [ “Very sad for the young lady,” lie

said, his eyes still fixed on Bannantyne, who, w'ith an abrupt movement, had sat down in a chair facing him. “Of course! Of course! out she’s fallen on her feet, and has nothing to complain about now. Somebody has been fool enough to pay a big price for a rotten property of her father’s in Mexico, and ” Bannantyne had been speaking impatiently. To Grelkin’s surprise, he stopped suddenly, and sat staring into the fireplace.” “And ?” Grelkin repeated after a while. Bannantyne did not answer. “And what, Mr. Bannantyne?” The other turned from the fireplace and looked round the room. “What was I saying? Oh, yes, about the Mexican property,” he said quickly. “But Miss Daynesford’3 affairs have got nothing to do with tbe necklace. Bet’s keep to that.” Grelkin made his living by observing men and women. Both his observation and his knowledge convinced him that a man of Baunantyne’s type does not suddenly forget what he is talking about in the middle of a sentence. The brain of that type is too concentrated. Some thought had suddenly come into Bannantyne s mind, something suggested by the property in Mexico. The man's f a 9® bore out this impression. Grelkin felt certain that the thought, whatever it might be. was still dominant in his mind. “You said I couldn’t see Mrs. Ban* nantvne tonight. I wonder if I nug“ see Miss Daynesford?” he asked, i would save time tomorrow.’ “Certainly,” Bannantyne answered- “ She’s with my wife; TO fetch her. Since the night when the old friend ship and kindliness between the® had fallen to pieces—broken by tne i girl’s contempt for the man s I believed had slandered her jfat n * ! and the man’s anger and humihatio —Bannantyne and Patricia had neve j been alone. Upon each of her visits to Brent- ! land she deliberately avoided an- ! tete-a-tete, an avoidance which a I gered Bannantyne even more deep. against her. Now. in obedience to his curt quest that she should see the detec : tive, she followed him from -* ■ Bannantyne’s bedroom along a 1( £ i corridor and down the great ’ 1 in silence. When Bannantyne reached the vestibule leading f ro the hall to the narrow passage > which was his study, he tarn sharply and said: “Patricia, who was the friend j lent you the money to the tax on the Mexican property?” A big glass lantern hung fromi the domed-ceiling, flooding the vest!*) with a strong, rather glaring I’S ' Bannantyne stopped beneath it, lOOmr ing at Patricia intently. The girl made a movement of surprise. “That is no business of yojj Henry.” she answered, looking at steadily. “You at any rate refused lend it.” “Is there any reason why I sllo k not know?” he persisted, his e- ' still fixed upon her face. & iTo be continued on MonlajrJ