AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

Sun (Auckland), Volume III, Issue 836, 3 December 1929, Page 14

AT THE SIGN of THE PENNANT

By

KEELSON.

KEEL YACHTS IN ACTION ON THE ROAD TO KAWAU Yachtsmen sailing with the Royal :Ntw Zealand Yacht Squadron’s boats in Saturday were favoured with a spanking westerly and white water—real weather for dyed-in-the-wool sailormen. The keelers, however, had a mixture. The start was piping enough for anybody but as Kawau loomed up, the wind failed and later picked up, but not beforo it had marred the race. The field of 10. comprising entries from A, B and C classes, was satisfactory considering the early stage of the season. . One thing that was not brilliant was the start, which was about as ragged as it could have been. Only two boats were reasonably on time and the rest were well strung out, like a line of cows. The reason was mainly on account of the stiff blow, which upset calculations, and made several entrants late in leaving their moorings. The majority were reefed, some one tuck, several two and it was not until two-thirds of the journey had been covered that skippers decided to shake nut. Thelma and Ariki went ahead with all sail. Thelma, looking grand from the King’s Wharf tower, tramped along in fine style. She looked like doing something good, and sailing a good course got in 9m in lsec ahead of Kik. The champion kept further into the middle of the channel, which on tie day proved not so good. Ngatna was handled well, and led nearly until Duder's Spit was picked up. She hung on to Thelma and Ariki and at the finish was Bmin 16sec astern of the second boat. The rest of the field was pretty well separated at the finish, the times not being very close. Finishing times were: Thelma. 6.3.28: Ariki, 6.12.29; Nga-toa, 6.20.13; Rawene, 6.56.58; Kotiri, 7.3.10; Ladye Wilma, 7.18.46; Windward, 7.32.52; Rangi. 7.34.48; lona, 7.44.32. Corrected times were: Thelma, ♦*.l.sS: Nga-toa, 6.9.13; Ariki, 6.12.29; Kotiri, 6.31.10; Rawene, 6.38.58; Ladye Wilma, 6.47.16; Windward, 6.54.22; Rangi, 6.58.48; lona, 6.59.32. ll is obvious from this that the bandicappers did not expect the fluky - tatc of the wind later in the race. Still, the competitors had an enjoyable trip down, and a pleasant social intercourse at the destination. The . mailer boats bad a bit of a doing on »he road home, and most crews were tired by the time moorings were located. WITH THE PATIKIS The M’s had a brisk innings for i heir harbour race. Off the wind, with soinnakers pulling like aero motors, ine flatties planed along like flyingboats. The start was a model of .mart spinnaker work, all five boats having the extra sail up within 10 seconds of crossing the line. After the run to the Bastion, which was rounded first by Mara tea, with Manene, Maroro and Mawhiti all handy, and Manu some distance to the rear, the contenders had a lead to the Samlspit. It was on this leg that Mawhiti worked into the front, never to be beaded. Maroro had taken second pliice by the time the mark was reached and Manene and Maratea had chopped back into third and fourth positions respectively, though not widely spaced. Manu was still lagging a bit. On the third leg Manene and Maratea pulled up and Maroro and Manu were rather far back. Mawhiti beat Manene by 2min 22sec and Maratea came in third 12sec further away. Then came Maroro 53sec later and Manu, hanging bravely on, 2min 22sec further off. It was a wet race, and one that demanded no small resource on the part of crews—witness the capsize of Matarere, which was hovering in the vicinity of the wharves shortly after three o’clock.

OUT OF THE LOCKER

The Victoria Cruising Club’s picnic will be held at Pine Island on Sunday next. usual weekly dance of the Ak?u*&na Yacht Club will be held in th* Clubhouse, Mechanics Bay, tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. On Saturday next th€> Victoria Cruising Club is holding its Cup Day. There will be races for all classes. Entries close tomorrow (Wednesday) evening. • * * The mullet-boats Huia, Doreen and Marie went as far as liowick at the week-end. The mullet-boat Ngaru 11. and the auxiliary mul!et-boat Twilight were at Whangaparaoa for the week-end. * * * Mr. Brown, of Cleveland Road, Parnell. has a new 20-foot launch under construction. She should be ready shortly. Mr. L. Heard’s launch Kenya made a trip round Waiheke Island at the weekend. Some fairly rough water was encountered. • * * The keeler Daisy had rather a rough trip from Devonport to her moorings in Judge’s Bay on Friday evening. When half-way across the harbour her jib was split in half, and her crew had a trying time picking up the moorings. Mr. E. B. Webster’s E class keeler May Belle spent the week-end at Shakespeare’s Bay, Whangaparaoa. Some fair fishing was obtained. On the run back to town on Sunday, weather from bright sunshine to a hailstorm was encountered. * * • The launch Silens has just been completely overhauled and fitted out by I*. Vos. Alterations, including a new raised top, have been made. She is now looking up-to-date and smart. Her new owner, Mr. John Hislop, intends to do some extensive cruising this summer. * * * Advice has boon received that the schooner-yacht Valkyrie left Suva on Saturday on the return trip to this port. The vessel left the Waitemata many months ago for an extended cruise in the South Seas, but unforsoen difficulties have terminated the plans of the owner. Captain E. Gilling. The ship had a protracted and an adventurous voyage of more than five weeks to the Fijis, and on arrival there was laid up, it seemed, for an indefinite period. Valkyrie has been driven back to Suva by heavy weather, according to a still later message. * * * A meeting of the Auckland Yacht end Motor-Boat Association will be held in the Squadron rooms tonight week. December 10. The chief business will be Sanders Cup plans. Next in importanoe will be a report on opening day’s racing. * * * Boat owners who propose racing this year either to Russell or to Tauranga .ire asked by the Auckland representative of the respective regatta committees. Mr. J. C. Hewson. secretary of the Royal New Zealand Yacht Squadron, to notify him before Mon-

day. December 9, when they would wish the races started. Two dates are mentioned, one being Saturday. Deremb€r 21. and the other Tuesday ■K evening, December 24.

WITH THE OUTBOARDS activities pending Three outboards Lried themselves out in a choppy sea at Ivohimarama ! on Saturday afternoon, and had a lively time. Ocean Mule made her second appearance. She is an unusual type of craft. Ocean Mule, which attracted a deal of attention, is onlv 12ft overall, and is shorn off square at the stern. Out in the choppy sea she bumped round like the animal after which she is named, now standing on her tail, swo-rdfish fashion, and j again leaping almost clear of the | water, and landing back with a flop j squarely on her bottom. Her owner intends fitting her with a more powerful unit —a 32-h.p. engine. The engine she had on Saturday is to be fitted to a lighter craft. The other two outboards. The Chief and Lady Gay, were doing much better in the choppy sea. They put up an excellent showing, particularly Lady Gay. Mr. A. R. Townsend’s speeder Miss Arawa was out yesterday morning on trial, running after minor alterations. She appears to be putting up an unusually smart performance, and her owner is more than satisfied. Mention of Miss Arawa recalls some of the fine contests seen last season between that boat and Hum Bug, particularly at Russell. Mention of Hum Bug calls to mind the innocent deception “put across” outboard fans at the first meeting of the outboard division on the Whan a couple of Saturdays ago. So it turns out that “Blimp,” the latest in fashions, was not “Blimp” at all, but a new—and, it is believed —a better Hum Bug, which is named by her owner the fourth of the lineage. Mr. L. Stericker had the new craft built by Collins and Bell in order to defend the outboard title at Russell after Christmas. The disguise was decided upon as a precautionary measure. Even a bogus driver, Mr. C. F. Goldsbro’, was rung in for the occasion. The scheme was that if Hum Bug IV., alias Blimp, turned out a dud, the honourable genealogy would not be tarnished, for the hull would not be entered in the racing lists. As has been demonstrated, the new Hum Bug is capable. of a good turn of speed. A larger lin is being fitted, and one or two minor alterations made. When these are completed, outboard enthusiasts can expect some dashing exhibitions. Can Hum Bug IV. hold the interprovincial shield against some of the newcomers this season? Well, the regatta at Russell should provide some thrills on December 27. Collings and Bell are busy on four new outboard runabouts. A 15ft 6in hull, to b£ fitted with an Elto Quod, is being made for Mr. Thompson, of Auckland. A 16-footer is under construction for the Public Works Department, for use at Mercer. A third for Mr. Kent, of Kingsland. will be 14 feet long, and will be used for fishing. The power will be an Elto speedster. The fourth is a 16ft hull for a resident of Patea, who also intends to do some fishing. COMBINED REGATTA At a meeting of the outboard division of the New Zealand Power-boat Association, held last evening, a deputation representing the Auckland Rowing Association made a request that a combined outboard and rowing regatta be held on the Whau River on March 22. On that date the Rowing Association has its interprovincial eights championships, in which five centres are expected to compete. The suggestion was approved, and a programme embodying rowing and outboard speeding will be arranged. The fame of the outboards has spread far. A letter was received from the Pahi (Kaipara) Regatta Committee asking outboard men to compete in the annual fixture on the northern harbour, to be held on February 15. The committee offered to provide transpart facilities for the boats. Several members signified their readiness to make the trip, provided no unnecessary delay was caused in the transportation of craft. Elimination trials will be held on December 14 to select the Auckland boat to defend the interprovincial challenge shield at the Russell regatta. The next .racing calendar of the outboard division will take place on the Whau on December 14, when elimination trials will be held to select the Auckland boat to defend the interprovincial challenge shield at the Russell regatta. In addition, a comprehensive programme has been prepared. At 2.45 a B class handicap will be run over a course of three laps. At three o’clock the first heat for the elimination contests will be started. The event is, of course, open to all comers. The distance is five laps. At 3.15 the second heat will he run. A C class handicap over three laps will go at 3.30. At 3.45 the final of the elimination trial will be contested between the winners of the first and second heats, the distance being five laps. The programme will conclude at 4.15 with a general handicap for all boats which took part in any of the other races. High tide on that day is at 5.21 p.m. Entries close on Tuesday with the secretary, Mr. George Hunt, Blandford Park Stadium, or with John Burns, Ltd., Customs Street. The starting will be timed by the new' clock, to which improvements are being made. A red flag waved at a boat means that it must stop; a checkered flag signifies that a boat has completed the course.

“Double Reef" writes: —Reading the results of yacht races held on Saturday I saw that the Tamaki Yacht Club had postponed its races on account of bad weather, yet later in the afternoon three Z boats put in an appearance, one from Western Ponsonby, and they were given a race. Surely if these little fellows can roll up and beat back after racing it is quite reasonable to expect V’s, M’s, Stars, etc., to be able to brave the elements. The crew of a boar good in the heavy going would have and should have every opportunity of having a race on their day.

Here is a note of warning to the boys—-to the lads who are Auckland’s budding yachtsmen. You are sailing your little boats on a moody harbour, and your canoes and your seven-foot-ers are not meant for venturesome journeys. They were designed in the first place for smooth water and “young” breezes. This harbour of ours has changed a lot because of reclamation work and the construction of deflectors and wharves. At certain stages of the tide there is a treacherous rip where once the water was easy going. Don’t be tempted on any account to get out of coo-ee of the shore, unless your big brothers are handy in a larger craft. Although your little boats are big to you and may seem as safe as a house, don’t take unnecessary risks. This advice may appear unwarranted, but you can take it that old yachtsmen are just wondering a bit how some of your voyages are going to turn out. Play safe—that’s a fair thing.

model yacht notes In spite of the strong, gusty weather prevailing on Saturday, some excellent model yacht racing was witnessed on the Orakei Basin. Rugby, a small new model, was unlucky in not winning the first race, but made amends by taking the second event. Results were; Boys’ Race. —Bonzo ( 4n s), 1; Miss Orakei (scr), 2; Silver (30s), 3. General Handicap.—Rugby. 3m (Bedford), 1; Bonzo, 15s, 2; Silver Wing, 30s, 3. A friendly match over a triangular course between Felix (scr). Aracataca (6m) and Silver Bell (2m), resulted in a close win fer Felix by four seconds over Aracataca, which had the misfortune to carry away some of her rigging.

Mr. Roy Lidgard w.as away in his new command, Arethusa., on Saturday. He went as far as the Wade. Accompanying the ship were the 22-footers Waima and Winifred. At the Wade Mr. Lidgard called the other crews aboard to celebrate Mrs. Lidgard’s birthday. Also in Aretliusa’s company were Mrs. Peters and Miss Bowen, who greatly enjoyed the cruise. Mr. Lidgard is thoroughly pleased with his new craft. She was sailing well during the week-end and will do even better when she has her regular mainsail fitted. Arethusa measures 32ft Sin by 12ft in the beam. She has about sft lOin in headroom.